Evidence of a recession piles higher with new data
Saturday November 1, 4:23 am ET
By Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer

Evidence of a recession piles even higher with new data showing Americans are spending less

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081101/finan...

"In a separate report, the Labor Department said the wages and benefits of U.S. workers rose by a modest 0.7 percent in the third quarter, the same as in the first and second quarters.

The spending report showed that an inflation gauge tied to spending edged up just 0.1 percent in September. But prices over the past year are up by more than 4 percent, and inflation is outside the Fed's comfort zone.

Still, the central bank is expected to focus on fighting to keep the country out of a severe recession -- not raising rates to fight inflation."