Investor's Business Daily - Sales should grow 2.2% in Nov. and Dec., the slowest pace in 6 years and well below the 10-year average of 4.4%, the Nat'l Retail Federation forecast. It expects shoppers to curb spending due to worries about jobs, food and fuel prices, and the weak housing and stock markets. More than 7.5 mil people, or about 15% of U.S. homeowners, are spending at least half of their income on housing, up from nearly 7.1 mil last year, the Census Bureau said. Homeowners who spend 30% or more of income on housing are considered financially strapped.
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