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Thirty-eight percent of consumers plan to spend more online for holiday gifts this year, a 9 percent increase over last year. This is according to the eBillme Online Spending Index, a quarterly survey conducted by Javelin Strategy and Research. The Index polls 1,200 consumers to measure projected online spending for the quarter and the influencing factors. During the fourth quarter, consumers are planning to spend an average of $283.68 online, a 3 percent increase over Q4 2009.

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in September. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate decreases, 11 states registered rate increases, and 16 states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia posted unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, 16 states reported increases, and 5 states had no change. The national jobless rate was unchanged in September at 9.6 percent and also little different from a year earlier (9.8 percent).

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.3 percent, The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) remained unchanged and The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index® (LAG) increased 0.4 percent in September.

Mortgage rates hit another record low this week, with the average rate on the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate retreating to 4.42 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.35 discount and origination points.

Though Americans are still operating with the recession in the back of their minds and many have fundamentally changed their shopping habits, some findings from NRF’s first holiday survey imply consumers won’t only be focusing on low prices and basic necessities this year. According to NRF’s 2010 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, U.S. consumers plan to spend an average of $688.87 on holiday-related shopping, a slight rise from last year’s $681.83.

Sun Life Financial Inc. released in the United States the latest edition of its UnretirementSM Index, which reveals that more than 8 in 10 American workers believe they will need at least three years to rebuild their retirement savings as a result of the economic crisis — up from 64% a year ago. In addition, more than half the working Americans that responded (52%) expect to work at least three years longer than originally planned — with just as many believing they will retire at 70 as those who believe they will retire at 65.

While half of Americans still primarily use spreadsheets and checkbook registers to manage their finances, more than one third are now managing their finances using online solutions provided by their financial institution — an increase from 27 percent a year ago. Just over one quarter of Americans have also cut back on visits to their local bank or credit union branch to just once a month, indicating that financial institutions are offering viable online solutions that are able to meet customer needs and deepen banking relationships. These are key findings of the Third Annual Intuit Financial Services Online Financial Management Survey.

Investor behavior suggests significant disconnects exist concerning risk and asset allocation and retirement readiness according to findings from a survey conducted by MFS Investment Management® of investors with at least $100,000 to invest. MFS asked those investors to compare their attitudes and behaviors about investing today to before the recent economic downturn and recession. The results point to a greater need for professional advice, especially regarding fixed income risk, diversification and retirement planning.

Median weekly earnings of the nation's 101.4 million full-time wage and salary workers were $740 in the third quarter of 2010 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This was 0.3 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 1.2 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) over the same period.

Though much attention has been paid to the concerns of older baby boomers, who are now entering retirement, the 2008 economic downturn was a particularly strong wake-up call for Americans in their late 40s. Younger boomers still have time, but worry more about control and stability in retirement than older boomers, according to a survey* of Americans aged 44-75 by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life).