For months now, consumers have been hunkering down in an economic storm, buying only what they need to survive, like groceries, diapers, medicine — and shoes. The New York Times reports.

Stocks ended mostly lower Tuesday after J&J's revenue miss stirred worries about this earnings season.

Stocks skidded Tuesday as earnings season took a turn for the worse. After a few companies delivered what analysts want to see this quarter, improvement in revenue, J&J delivered more of the same from last quarter.

Futures indicated a lower open for Wall Street on Tuesday, after the U.S. market's record-making day on Monday where the Dow Industrial Average reached a new 2009 trading high, close to the 10,000 mark.

Nike is scheduled to report earnings for its fiscal first quarter on Tuesday after the market closes. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

Stocks ended lower Wednesday, despite a late attempt at a recovery, as disappointing readings on the service sector and employment situation, as well as a cautious outlook from Dow component P&G, fueled concerns about the economic recovery.

Stocks tumbled Wednesday following disappointing readings on the service sector and employment situation, as well as a cautious outlook from Dow component P&G.

Stocks tumbled Wednesday following disappointing readings on the service sector and employment situation, as well as a cautious outlook from Dow component P&G.

Stock index futures pointed to a slight rise Wednesday, despite a drop in shares for Dow component Procter & Gamble and a sharp rise in planned layoffs for July.

Investors are looking for glimmers of economic hope in the everyday basics, from cereal to pens to cleaning supplies.

The latest batch of earnings took a toll on the market Friday but the Dow still pulled off a gain in the final half hour of trading, capping its best two-week performance since 2000. Microsoft shares fell more than 8%.

Stocks took a hit Friday as a drop in consumer sentiment exacerbated losses triggered by a disappointing round of earnings from Microsoft, Amazon and AmEx. But the Dow poked higher in afternoon trading Microsoft shares fell nearly 10%.

Stocks skidded Friday as a drop in consumer sentiment exacerbated losses triggered by a disappointing round of earnings from American Express, Amazon and Microsoft.

Futures indicated a lower open for Wall Street on Friday, probably due to earnings exhaustion, as after-the-bell results reports from American Express, Amazon.com and Microsoft disappointed investors.

The Dow topped 9,000 for the first time since January as investors shrugged off a rise in jobless claims and cheered earnings from Ford and 3M. A third straight rise in existing-home sales also buoyed the market.