The economy is chugging along, but consumers are uneasy

Consumers increasingly report feeling glum about the economy. Still, data suggests there has been no significant slowdown in their spending habits. The conflicting trends have made for an increasingly difficult landscape for the Federal Reserve to navigate as it meets Tuesday and Wednesday to decide where to set its key interest rate. Investors say a rate cut is virtually guaranteed amid signs of a weakening labor market. There are also concerns about where consumer spending i