Business

Retail sales pick up in July

Microsoft Looking Beyond Console Wars

Xbox Series X Having Disc Drive Issues

US Retail Sales Jump More Than Estimated In September

Business Insider reports that US retail sales in September increased by nearly 2%, landing above the average economist estimate of 0.8%. This is the fifth straight month of improvement, as the economy continues to reaccelerate after covid caused slowing through the summer. Consumer spending makes up 70% of the U.S. economy. Retail spending is among the economic indicators being closely watched to signal economic recovery health. But, September's initial leap is now slowing to a crawl. As fiscal relief programs expired and direct payments dried up, the pace of retail spending growth has slowed.

Early days for UK data in long Brexit game

The first official budget figures since Britain voted to leave the EU show a smaller-than-expected budget surplus. As post-referendum data continues to trickle in, attention is turning to what sort of access Britain will seek with its main trading partners in the EU. Kirsty Basset reports.