1.   A serious recession, for instance, would inflate Medicaid enrollment and drive spending up sharply.

2.   A serious recession, for instance, would inflate Medicaid enrollment and sharply drive up spending.

3.   Hot US Senate races in Massachusetts and New Jersey drove political spending in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.

4.   Spending was driven in part by a rebound in auto sales, which drove spending on durable goods.

5.   The stock market shows no sign of slowing down, which will continue to drive consumer spending.