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If you need proof that the economy is looking up, you need only look as far as your neighborhood car lot, or maybe even your own driveway. This week it was announced that there was a major bump in March auto sales. How major? Chrysler alone experienced a 34% increase in sales over the course of the month. Paul Eisenstein is the publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com. He explains what to make of these auto numbers, and whether they’re sustainable.

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year. As always, many stores are opening their doors earlier and extending sales for longer periods of time. Plus there's a rise in consumer confidence this month. So this year, the shopping period looks promising for retailers. It's estimated that 152 million people plan to shop this weekend, according to the National Retail Federation. That's up 10 percent from last year. But despite the good news, the economy is still weak.

View the top sellers from the fall Impressionist and Modern art auctions at Christie's and Sotheby's — without having to spend millions — here.

Last season, the New York City Ballet and other large dance companies in the U.S. had an average attendance of only 73 percent, according to Dance/USA. But this year, the City Ballet is facing a different attendance issue: sold-out tickets for their entire two-week run of “Swan Lake.”

What changed, you might ask? Two words: “Black Swan.” And one more word: “Oscar.”

If Thanksgiving is a day for gratitude, Black Friday is a day for...sales! Right? Not so fast, says our personal finance contributor, Beth Kobliner. Last year, retailers were slashing prices by 80 or 90 percent, but she says bargains just aren't as big this year. 

If it's the adrenalin rush of Black Friday shopping you're after, we've got some tips on how to stay sober while walking down the aisle. Our Golden Rule to follow: fifty percent off of something you don't need is not a deal.

A day after disappointing sales results for existing homes in July, sales of new homes sold last month fell to the lowest rate on record, alarming economists.

“The potential for the housing market to drag the economy back into recession is…rising,” said Celia Chen, senior director at Moody’s Economy.com.