Americans opened their wallets for holiday spending, defying fears of a pullback
CBSN
Shoppers weren't entirely tight fisted during the holiday season, despite the ongoing pressure of inflation on household budgets.
U.S. retail sales grew 3.1% this holiday season, according to a Mastercard poll that tracks in-store and online retail sales. Spending on restaurants increased 7.8% from last year, while apparel and grocery-related purchases were up 2.4% and 2.1%, respectively, according to Mastercard.
Robust consumer spending bodes well for the economy's present and future, according to Goldman Sachs.
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launched six space tourists on a high-speed dash to the edge of space and back Friday, giving the passengers — including a husband and wife making their second flight — about three minutes of weightlessness and an out-of-this world view before the capsule made a parachute descent to touchdown at the company's west Texas flight facility.