U.S. consumers are spending briskly

WASHINGTON American consumers have money and are spending it thisholiday shopping season, taking home billions of dollars in new cars,furniture and clothing.

Department stores and other general merchandisers reported theirbest sales in nine months in November, the start of the importantseason when stores ring up one-fifth of their annual sales. Autodealers recorded brisk sales for a third consecutive month.

"It's hard to keep consumers from spending as long as they havethe money, and they seem to have the money," said economist RosalindWells of the National Retail Federation.The world economic slump that began in Asia last year has hurtfarmers and caused layoffs …