Consumers log stronger-than-expected spending rise

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In this Nov. 16, 2009 photo, customers shop for lumber inside Lowe's in Tallahassee, Fla. Consumers got back in the buying mood in October as their incomes grew modestly, an encouraging sign for the budding economic recovery.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)

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Consumers log st... In this Nov. 16, 2009 photo, customers shop for lumber inside Lowe's in Tallahassee, Fla. Consumers got back in the buying mood in October as their incomes grew modestly, an encouraging sign for the budding economic recovery.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)
Toyota to replac... FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2009 photo, a top selling Toyota Camry is on display in the showroom at the McGeorge Toyota dealership in Richmond, Va. Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, it will replace accelerator pedals on 3.8 million recalled vehicles in the United States to address problems with the pedals becoming jammed in the floor mat.(AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Deere reports 4Q... In this photo taken Sept. 2, 2009, visitors admire the John Deere exhibits at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill. Deere and Co. said Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, big charges and lower sales of farm and construction equipment amid the economic downturn left it with a $223 million loss for the fourth quarter. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
GM says main pla... FILE - In this Nov. 5 2009 file picture workers enter the Opel car plant in Bochum, western Germany. The new head of GM Europe has made clear that the company plans to keep open an Opel plant in Bochum, Germany even as it works to cut some 20 percent of overall capacity. Nick Reilly says the plant in Bochum "remains an important part of the resources of General Motors in Europe going forward." He was speaking Tuesday Nov. 24, 2009 after meeting with the governor of North Rhine-Westphalia state, Juergen Ruettgers. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein,File)
Futures extend g... The exterior of the New York Stock Exchange
U.S. jobless cla... Librarian Gary Klein looks at the jobs and other announcements posted at The Work Place, which provides comprehensive employment and career services, in Boston
GM grapples with... A G.M. logo is seen behind an Opel logo at the Opel plant of Antwerp
Tiffany profit b... A woman walks out of the Tiffany & Co store on Fifth Avenue in New York
U.S. personal sp... File photo of a customer paying her bill
AIG board OKs CE... Benmosche smiles during an interview with Reuters in the garden of his Adriatic seafront villa in Dubrovnik
Aware of policy ... Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke speaks during the Economic Club of New York luncheon in New York