Business and Finance
CONSUMER SPENDING jumped 0.9% in November, suggesting that Christmas shopping may be stronger than had been thought. The gain followed a 1.4% drop in October. November personal income rose 0.6%, the government said.</br></br>The FDIC has begun selling pooled assets from failed banks to investment bankers for resale as securities. The action suggests the agency needs help in handling the record flow of assets from failing institutions.</br></br>---</br></br>R.J. Reynolds isn't liable for the death of a longtime smoker of the company's cigarettes, a jury ruled in Santa Barbara, Calif. It was the first jury verdict in a new wave of product-liability suits against tobacco firms.</br></br>---