<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080804/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/economy"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080725/capt.3d7b894c5f24445b8a2ce085468ef274.destination_ shopping_ah104.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=___k9hMJoBL gc6acAk1ztA--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="John Wallace and his wife Margot shop at Cabela's, a store located outside Interstate 80 west of Omaha, Neb., Thursday, July 24, 2008. Consumer spending is down and gas prices are up. That's bad math for the scores of destination retailers across the country that want customers to fill up the tank for a gas-guzzling day of retail therapy. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)" border="0" /></a>AP - Rising prices, falling home values, stagnant wages and tight credit. It's a potent combination that has struck the American consumer hard.</p><br clear="all"/>

View the entire article: Rising prices stifle impact of stimulus payments
(AP)