months of the year

Economic growth is picking up in the final three months of the year, fueled by higher consumer spending, rising business stockpiles and modest increases in hiring.

Official figures show that the economy of the 17 countries that use the euro grew by a quarterly rate of 0.8 percent in the first three months of the year, with Greece unexpectedly posting strong growth.

The economy slowed sharply in the first three months of the year as high gas prices cut into consumer spending, new data show.

Homebuilder PulteGroup says its loss in the first three months of the year widened because it sold fewer homes, and the average price of the homes it sold dropped.

Stocks edged higher Friday afternoon to close out one of the stock market's best months of the year. Every major stock index is ending October with gains of more than 3 percent.

British American Tobacco said Wednesday that it sold 1 percent fewer cigarettes in the first nine months of the year compared to a year ago, but revenue rose thanks to favorable currency movements and the acquisition in August 2009 of PT Bentoel in Indonesia.

Sales of previously occupied homes rose last month after the worst summer for the housing market in more than a decade.

And fears over flawed foreclosure documents could keep buyers on the sidelines in the final months of the year.

Consumers struggling to pay their bills in the first few months of the year got an immediate benefit from credit card reforms.

Consumers struggling to pay their bills in the first few months of the year got an immediate benefit from credit card reforms.

After a forceful reminder that the third quarter is history, stock investors are now uneasy about the final months of the year.