Business news in brief

Consumer spending rises in early Nov.

NEW YORK

Shoppers spent a bit more in early November, raising retailers’ spirits about the holiday season right before it kicks into high gear.

Early discounting on everything from TVs and sweaters as well as free-shipping deals helped pull in shoppers in the first two weeks of November. Consumers coming out of their shells could be a gift for an economy that has suffered from depressed spending for almost three years.

Weak economy helps cut pollution

WASHINGTON

Here’s one plus from the global economic recession: Carbon-dioxide pollution last year dropped for the first time in a decade.

But it didn’t last, and it wasn’t as big a drop as expected.

Burning fossil fuels to power factories, cars and airplanes spews out greenhouse gases that warm the world. But during the economic downturn, some factories shut down, and people didn’t drive or fly as much.

That helped drop emissions about 1.3 percent from 2008 to 2009, according to a study published Sunday in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Associated Press