Just as the nation’s 3.9% growth rate in the spring exaggerated the strength of the economy, the slowdown to 1.5% in the third quarter likely understates how well the U.S. is doing.

U.S. imports of foreign oil are rising again after a long decline, as the oil bust forces domestic producers to scale back.

The National Retail Federation expects sales to rise 3.7% this holiday season, less than the 4.1% gain last year, as sluggish U.S. job growth and other economic factors continue to weigh on consumer spending.

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