NATION
NATION
Consumer spending rises for second month
WASHINGTON — After a half-year of declines, consumer spending edged up for a second month in February even though incomes sagged under the weight of further job losses. The spending increases were seen as a hopeful sign that this key sector of the economy is staging a modest rebound that could help pull the country out of the recession.
Consumer spending rose by 0.2 percent last month after an even bigger 1 percent jump in January, which was the largest one-month gain in 31‚Ñ2 years, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Those gains followed a record six straight monthly declines as consumers tightened their belts in the face of a deepening recession.
OHIO
Wal-Mart to cut 650 jobs by closing optical lab
LOCKBOURNE, Ohio — Wal-Mart says it is closing a central Ohio optical lab to reduce costs, eliminating 650 jobs.
The retailer said Friday that work from the facility near Columbus will be done at optical labs in Crawfordsville, Ind., Fayetteville, Ark., and Dallas. The lab processes eyewear orders for Vision Centers in Wal-Mart stores.
Wal-Mart says it will continue to operate an optical merchandise distribution center at the Columbus-area location, which is in the village of Lockbourne.
Associated Press