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As the effects of the recession linger on, one place it continues to have a tight grip is on workers' wallets. Nearly eight-in-ten (77 percent) workers report that they live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet. Sixty-one percent of workers said that they felt they lived paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet in 2009. Workers went on to say that sometimes they are unable to make ends meet at all, with one-in-five (22 percent) saying they have missed payments on bills in the last year. This is according to a new nationwide survey of more than 4,400 workers by CareerBuilder that was conducted from May 18 to June 3, 2010.

Older workers’ confidence in their ability to retire comfortably has rebounded modestly in the past year, although confidence levels remain well below those prior to the financial crisis. Additionally, while concerns among older workers with defined benefit (DB) plans have eased, younger workers are growing increasingly worried over their DB benefits, according to a new survey conducted by global professional services company Towers Watson.

The vast majority of small business owners (86 percent) are concerned that the economy may experience a double-dip recession, according to the latest Citibank small business survey. At the same time, 75 percent of survey respondents say they are very or somewhat prepared for another downturn, signaling that many entrepreneurs have adjusted their businesses and finances to get through any additional economic stumbles.

More consumers feel the economy is getting better, but the number of consumers rating their personal finances as poor reached a six-month high in August according to the Discover U.S. Spending Monitor.

Labor productivity - defined as output per hour - fell in wholesale trade, but rose in retail trade and in food services and drinking places, in 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

As a result of soft sales and traffic levels and a deteriorating outlook among restaurant operators, the National Restaurant Association's comprehensive index of restaurant activity remained essentially flat in July. The Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 99.4 in July, down 0.1 percent from June and its fourth consecutive decline. In addition, the RPI stood below 100 for the third consecutive month, which signifies contraction in the index of key industry indicators.

In August, the Dow Jones Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) rose less than one point signalling that the economic recovery continues despite a slow August.

MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse, a macro-economic report tracking national retail and service sales, provided summary results for performance of specific U.S. retail industries in August, 2010. This month, sales in most categories recorded a slight year-over-year uptick compared to the year-over-year performance of the prior month. Nevertheless, the tendency has been more towards remaining stable and flat rather than towards growth.

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® which had declined in July, improved moderately in August. The Index now stands at 53.5 (1985=100), up from 51.0 in July. The Present Situation Index decreased to 24.9 from 26.4. The Expectations Index increased to 72.5 from 67.5 last month.

The euro area (EA16) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.0% in July 2010, unchanged compared with June. It was 9.6% in July 2009. The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.6% in July 2010, unchanged compared with June. It was 9.1% in July 2009.