seven months

The U.S. foreclosure rate has climbed to its highest level in seven months, suggesting that lenders are moving beyond a "robo-signing" scandal that had temporarily slowed bank takeovers, according to a private firm that tracks the activity.

A gauge of manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region grew in May at its slowest pace in seven months.

After tax cut, consumer spending rises but by the smallest amount in seven months.

The number of people who bought previously owned homes last year fell to the lowest level in 13 years. But home sales in December jumped to fastest pace in seven months.

Retail sales, helped by strong demand for autos, increased in October by the largest amount in seven months.

Home prices in April rose for the first time in seven months as government tax incentives helped to bolster the housing market.

Traders gave in to another case of last-hour anxiety Monday and drove stocks to their lowest level in seven months.

Consumer spending was stagnant in April, turning in the weakest performance in seven months, while incomes posted a tiny advance.

Even more than the average individual, Google shareholders seem likely to wind up marking the end of the week by having a few drinks.  Google's stock was below $500 when the closing bell rang today, and the stock actually hasn't closed lower since October 5th of last year.

You can see the state of things for yourself below.  Google closed at $488.52 on October 5th; now, more than seven months later, it's only a little bit higher at $493.13.  Not good.

Chief among the Great Recession's winners is McDonald's. McDonald'ssales growth in 2008 was greater than in 2006 and 2007.

While many restaurants scaled back, it opened nearly 600 stores in 2008. And the chain has notched same-store-sales growth in each of 2009's first seven months.