A chill has descended on America's shopping malls. With credit markets frozen, the Dow plunging and consumers buying less, retailers are bracing themselves for one of the worst holiday seasons in nearly two decades. Personal finance news - CNNMoney.com

As if it weren't bad enough that home prices are going down (way down), the cost of homeowners insurance is also moving in the wrong direction: up (in some areas, way up). Personal finance news - CNNMoney.com

Both presidential candidates want to turn employer-sponsored health insurance on its head. A principal goal: to make sure more Americans get coverage. Personal finance news - CNNMoney.com