Financial markets are starting to work better, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said today, but are still not functioning normally despite Fed intervention. Meanwhile, new data on retail sales suggests American consumers, though stressed, are not cutting their spending in a dramatic way.

In its quest to put $168 billion of economic stimulus payments - or tax "rebates" - into American consumers' hands this year, something has stumped the Internal Revenue Service: How will it find 22 million retirees and veterans plus millions of low-income workers who won't get stimulus checks unless they file a 2007 tax return?

Where to get free help with rebate forms | Tax GuideIn its quest to put $168 billion of economic stimulus payments - or tax "rebates" - into American consumers' hands this year, something has stumped the Internal Revenue Service:

The consumer total rises 37% year over year. More is expected. American consumers' bankruptcy filings jumped 15% in February from the previous month and a steeper rise is looming because of the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the American Bankruptcy Institute said Monday.