The national average has already topped $3 a gallon.

The average rate on the 15-year loan rose to 4.20 percent from 4.15 percent -- the highest reading in six months.

The Labor Department says applications dropped by 34,000 to 388,000, the lowest number since the week of July 12, 2008.

Utility spokesman Jason Walls says figures aren't yet available to compare energy use this month to a year ago

Stable gas prices mean more consumers have been willing to buy more trucks and SUVs.

The professors started giveitbackforjobs.org to allow Americans "who have the means" to calculate what their tax cut would be and donate that amount to a charity.

The traditional pension plan is disappearing and many stock plans have been posting low returns.

The data show clothing sales rose 11.2 percent. Also, jewelry and luxury goods showed strong single-digit gains compared with a year ago.

After ballooning ticket prices kept many fans at home this year, many promoters now say they plan to make shows more affordable next year.

The weekend snowstorm in the East has deterred some people from hitting day-after-Christmas sales.

Outstanding payday loans declined about 10 percent during 2009 as 245 locations closed.

The average rate on the 15-year loan also fell to 4.15 percent from 4.17 percent.

The government says consumers increased their spending 0.4 percent in November.

The number of shoppers rose 3 percent over the weekend before Christmas last year.

Utility regulators will allow Georgia Power to raise electricity rates for its 2.3 million customers.

The government has settled on the dates when millions of people will no longer be able to get their Social Security benefit checks by mail.

The Public Service Commission plans to vote Tuesday on whether the Southern Co. subsidiary can raise prices over three years.

With national unemployment just below 10 percent, $20 yoga classes don't qualify as necessities for many unemployed people.

Gift cards are the easy go-to gift for some shoppers, but there are new rules that protect you against fast approaching expiration dates.

Three men were convicted of fleecing thousands of people out of more than $80 million have been sentenced to decades in federal prison.

Economists at the University of South Carolina say jobs will be slow to come back to South Carolina.

Democrats argued that the payment was needed to offset the hardships of seniors facing a second consecutive year without an increase.

RealtyTrac says the U.S. is still on pace to see more than 3 million households receive some sort of foreclosure notice this year.

Officials of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing said Monday that they are examining 1.1 billion of the new notes.

Owners or managers of restaurants should know that no inspections are ever “pre-scheduled”.