• Total box office sales hit a record high this past Labor Day weekend, pulling in over $124 million. The weekend’s profits were thanks largely to the success of the concert movie, “One Direction: This is Us,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
• Despite a dramatic increase in the economic confidence of American households earning more than $50,000 a year, those making less than that have experienced only minor increases in confidence. This has established a large confidence gap between middle-class and lower-income Americans, according to Bloomberg.
• Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece — some of the countries hit hardest by the struggling European economy — received a record number of tourist visits this past season. Tourists have been driven to Southern Europe by the continued turmoil in the Middle East, according to the New York Times.
• As average Americans turn to more risky investments as a source of higher returns on their savings, bank accounts have become noticeably smaller this year. The slight shrinkage marks a turn in what was a six-year trend of growing bank accounts, according to CNBC.
• The Rainbow Loom, an extremely popular children’s toy this summer, continues to grow in popularity. The company first began when founder, Cheong Choon Ng, wanted to make friendship bracelets with his daughters, according to the New York Times.
• After climbing to a five-week high, the price of natural gas has once again fell on reports of colder weather for the coming week. Natural gas is used to generate electricity and thus power AC units, according to Bloomberg.
• The average amount of money parents are leaving their children from the Tooth Fairy shot up 23 percent in 2013 to $3.70 per tooth. For a full set of 20 teeth, a child would earn $74, according to CNBC.
