Christmas | featured news

Amid the deluge of holiday music that comes in November and December, Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas II You and Susan Boyle’s The Gift are poised to make all those other seasonal crooners sound like off-key carolers.

Are you filling Santa's bag this year using paper or plastic? Millions of Americans will trim the tree this year with a credit card balance still left over from last year. Don't let this be you. It virtually guarantees you aren't saving enough to protect against the many uncertainties in the economy. And chances are, if you're charging up your credit cards, you also aren't investing enough in your retirement and education funds to make sure the future is secure.

Retailers should see their best Christmas sales in four years as consumers now show some inclination to spend money despite a minimal recovery in the economy, according to series of recent forecasts.

There are only 96 more shopping days until Christmas. This year, experts say, you should be shopping early for more than just gifts. "Airline fares are 20 to 30 percent above last year's rates, and they vary day to day," said Tom Parsons of Bestfares.com.

Lawyers for a Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a plane near Detroit on Christmas said Thursday that they've talked to prosecutors about resolving the case with a deal.

Sixteen years on from her first Christmas songs release, Mariah Carey is prepping a sequel: "Merry Christmas II You" will be out on Nov. 2, according to Rap-Up.

Hewlett-Packard raises its outlook for its financial year after strong sales over the Christmas period lifted its profits by 25%.

Paramount Pictures is making sure that another "Paranormal Activity" is in theaters by Christmas, but has hired a "Saw" veteran to make it happen.

A Nigerian man pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that he tried to blow up a packed U.S. Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day.

The president says an affiliate of the group trained and equipped Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. He promises to hold U.S. security officials accountable for breakdowns in terrorism screening.