Consumers to dictate shape of the recession

Since 11 September, the reaction of US consumers has been closely monitored, having been the main support of the slowing American economy up until then. The S&P 500 index is down 2.31% in dollar terms over the month to 9 October and unsurprisingly, the top-performing stock in the country happens to be one that specialises in products and services in the area of military and commercial electronics and missile and aircraft manufacturing. Raytheon Company is up 45.07% over the month to 9 October and is followed by Northrop Gruman, up 31.50%, which provides products in defence and comm...