Kai Risdal

Data so far, this is from Adobe Analytics and the National Retail Federation, suggests that despite all the economic agita, the rate of consumer spending hasn't really declined.

So while we wait for the government data, we're following some of our small business retail regulars through the holidays, and we've got some midseason updates for you.

First, Kalina Bruce at Noir Lux Candle Bar in Seattle.

Colina Bruce driving around Seattle for Noir Lux Candle Bar.

Two more retail regulars coming up in a bit.

We don't do straight up stock market stories very often.

First of all, because, say it with me now, the stock market is not the economy.

But also, we don't usually do them because as soon as we assign one in our morning meeting, the three major indices either spike or take a tumble.

Today was a tumble day after the record highs yesterday.

The thing the market can be useful for, though, is as a guide to what traders are anticipating, how they think the economy and those corporate earnings are going to do in the next six months or so.

And when things do go up, that can juice economic growth, as Marketplace's Mitchell Hartman explains.

It's the thought that counts, though, right?

First, let's do the numbers.

Dow Industrials dropped 245 points today, about a half of 1%.

Closed at 48,458.

The Nasdaq leaked 398 points.

That is 1.7%.

Finished at 23,195, well off the lows.

S&P 500 down 73 points, 1.1%, 68.27.

For the week, the Dow up 1%.