Anticipating holiday shopping: behind the numbers

We take a quick look at some of the numbers soon to affect consumers this holiday season. Wal-Mart posted positive third-quarter earnings, and the Labor Department reports that initial claims for jobless benefits fell by 12,000, totalling 502,000 in the week ending November 7th. That’s the lowest level for new claims since January. Is there an emerging sense of stability among shoppers that we didn’t have last year?

We discuss these topics and President Obama’s proposed “jobs summit” with The Wall Street Journal’s Kelly Evans.