Ended in both places with definitive outcomes. On wall street, that outcome was another record high close for the dow, and we begin there tonight. Now, the dows win streak continues. Nine in a row. The blue chip index hasnt done that in 16 years. In fact it hasnt had a down day this month. Today the dow added 5 points, ending at 14,455, its seventh Straight Record closing high. The nasdaq was up nearly 3 points and the s p 500 inched 2 points higher. That leaves it less than 11 points from its alltime closing high. Now, the markets got an early boost from strong retail sales last month, which rose 1. 1 , nearly double what economists had expected. Thats the biggest spending gain in five months. But as Courtney Reagan tells us, those top line numbers can be deceiving. The governments headline retail sales number came in nearly double what economists expected for february. The details reveal a less than rosy picture when it comes to Discretionary Spending. I think the consumer is still i
Its gas prices, the payroll taxes, or whether disruptions. Lorwer income americans seem to be the most fragile, on tuesday Charles Holly said taxes are his shoppers number two concern, adding its the first time in a long time taxes were a top concern at all. Itg Investment Research chief economist steve blitz says this retail sales report illustrates two separate consumer groups. With higher income americans spending on autos and Building Supplies while lower income americans continue to be adversely impacted by higher payroll taxes, rising gas prices and delayed tax refund checks, a sentiment echoed by the National Retail federation. For nightly Business Report, im courtney reagan. As courtney just mentioned, consumers are spending on housing and garden supplies. Coming up, well take you behind the scenes of the home depot product walk. Its where Companies Showcase their hottest home items for this spring. Chief executives of some of americas Biggest Companies are optimistic about the
Last year he launched Harvard Business schools u. S. Competitiveness project. Its purpose is to answer one of the most challenging questions america faces today. How do we ensure the United States leads in the Global Economic arena. Im pleased to have Michael Porter back at this table. Welcome. Its been a while. Great to have you here. Yes, sir, thank you, charlie, my pleasure. Let me do this because ive referenced with this with you before. It seems it would be great to be a university professor. For this big reason its a distinction, but you get to range over the disciplines on campus. And die. Rose you could teach in whatever school you wanted to. I teach in the medical school, the school of public health, the Kennedy Business School and its the best perch one could imagine. Rose i want you to give me two minutes because you think about this a lot on health care in america. Well, i think we first need to understand that the kind of problem of health care today is not the problem wev
His aim is to shape the debate about americas competitiveness. Last year he launched Harvard Business schools u. S. Competitiveness project. Its purpose is to answer one of the most challenging questions america faces today. How do we ensure the United States leads in the Global Economic arena. Im pleased to have Michael Porter back at this table. Welcome. Its been a while. Great to have you here. Yes, sir, thank you, charlie, my pleasure. Let me do this because ive referenced with this with you before. It seems it would be great to be a university professor. For this big reason its a distinction, but you get to range over the disciplines on campus. And die. Rose you could teach in whatever school you wanted to. I teach in the medical school, the school of public health, the Kennedy Business School and its the best perch one could imagine. Rose i want you to give me two minutes because you think about this a lot on health care in america. Well, i think we first need to understand that
Ukraines leader said the military must be ready for a fullscale invasion from russia. I will talk about his plans for the summer with the American Ambassador to the united nations. Then this week the white house announced plans to beef up operations in iraq. More troops more training more weapons and more bases. Will it work . Is it the right way to take on isis . Also how to get people to have more unprotected sex. Really. Well actually how to get them to have more babies. Thats what many countries from denmark to singapore are trying to figure out. A report on the declining demographics of rich countries. Finally, would you pay 10 for a can of coke . How about a ben franklin for a fresh melon . The sky high prices are found in a place where the un says almost 70 of the population live below the poverty line. We will take you there. Saudi arabia has been dropping hints that if Irans Nuclear ambitions go unchecked, it might just have to get Nuclear Weapons itself. Last week the saudi a