Cautious But Steady Consumers Bouying Hope For U.S. Economy
Cashiers process purchases at a Walmart Supercenter in North Bergen, N.J. On Tuesday, the Labor Department reports on U.S. consumer prices for January. The consumer price index is closely watched by the Federal Reserve, which has raised interest rates eight times in the past year in an attempt to cool the economy and bring down inflation. AP photo
WASHINGTON (AP) — Call it the Goldilocks consumer. Defying high inflation and sharp interest rate hikes, Americans keep spending — a trend that, if sustained,…


