rebate checks

Two traditionally thrifty retailers, Wal-Mart and Costco, helped overall June retail sales exceed expectations.

But that good news may not last now that most of the government stimulus checks have been sent out and gas prices continue to climb.

Many retailers are bracing for a weak back-to-school season.

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Is the Federal Reserve finished with its rate-cutting campaign, or is the economy in such bad shape that it will need more help in the future?

The consensus is that the Fed is signaling a pause. It wants to see how the economy responds to seven interest rate cuts — and a hundred billion dollars worth of rebate checks.

Paying off debt. Catching up on bills. Filling up the gas tank. A snapshot of what Americans plan to do with their stimulus payments.

Tax rebates are the centerpiece of the government's plan to stimulate the economy, but many Americans are planning to put the money in the bank or use it to pay off debt, according to a survey released Monday.

Tax rebates are the centerpiece of the government's plan to stimulate the economy, but many Americans are planning to put the money in the bank or use it to pay off debt, according to a survey released Monday.

This year's special rebate checks haven't been mailed out yet, but Congress is working on a foreclosure-prevention bill in conjunction with more proposals aimed at stimulating the economy.

The House and Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a roughly $170 billion plan aimed at spurring the economy by sending rebate checks to millions of taxpayers, offering tax breaks to businesses and trying to ease the home lending crunch.