American consumers are energetically engaged in a spendathon. American businesses, by contrast, are not.

Businesses and households swim in the same economic soup and their outlooks — gloomy or bright — are usually in sync. But in recent months, the two seem to occupy opposite ends of a teeter-totter, with consumers continuing to spend while business owners and managers are chastened by doubt and uncertainty.

The economic expansion has extended its record run despite this curious divergence. The question is how long it can continue.

— Read on www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/business/economy/economy-consumers-business.html