economy

America has become a snacking culture. People now eat before, between and after meals. What’s more, snacking is and will continue to grow as a global exploration of taste, as today’s younger consumers are more interested in globalized flavors.

Operators say more corporate customers are booking year-end events—and spending more when they do.

The 0.1 percent slip in purchasing was the first decline in more than a year, but forecasters haven’t tempered predictions of a sharp upswing in economic activity. More alarm seemed to be raised by the spike in prices, the highest rise in the national inflation gauge since November 2012.