SPENDING DIVIDE: According to a study by PwC, the spending divide among shoppers is growing. The number of people the firm considers “survivalists” – those who make $50K or less a year – is on the rise, which PwC predicts will dampen holiday spending. What’s behind this growing gap, and what implications could it have on where and when people spend this holiday? Read more
SHIFTS IN ‘GLOBAL POWER’: In 25 years, the global energy landscape will change, with oil-producing nations shifting in prominence and other sources of energy rising to challenge oil. And as the face of global energy changes, so will the face of global political power. Watch
HEALTH IMMIGRATION: President Obama’s executive order on up to 5 million immigrants last week won’t totally preclude the affected people getting health coverage, but it’s not clear how many will be able to do so. Those immigrants will be barred from getting Medicaid or Obamacare subsidies, but analysts note that they will be able, at some point, to get legal jobs, and perhaps health insurance through their employer in some cases. But cost remains a concern. As ranks of overall uninsured shrink from Obamacare, undocumented could become 25 percent of nation’s uninsured. Read more
DOW RISES TO RECORD CLOSE; GDP BETTER THAN THOUGHT: Read more
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