A roundup of economic news from around the Web.

Emily Oster is an economics professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, who answers readers' questions.

The Powerball jackpot is up to $600 million, with a day still to go before tomorrow’s drawing. Which means it’s time once again to ask the question: Is this the rare time where it makes economic sense to buy a ticket?

U.S. consumers' view of the economy turned much brighter in early May, according to data released Friday.

The U.S. economy continues to recover from the 2008 financial crisis and the deep recession that followed, but it still has a long way to go until it feels "like a healthy economy," Fed governor Sarah Bloom Raskin said in a speech.

Three economic reports out this morning suggest the economy is still growing but that growth rate is slowing a bit. The Wall Street Journal’s Mathew Passy chats with David Berson, Senior VP and chief economist for Nationwide Insurance.

To the consternation of U.S. manufacturers and probably Federal Reserve officials, American consumers are being asked -- once again -- to be Shoppers to the World.

Sales at gasoline stations tumbled 4.7% in April from a month earlier, as fuel prices continued their decline.

Americans cut their credit-card debt in March, a sign some consumers are cautious about the sluggish economic recovery. But total debt increased due to jumps in student and auto loans.

Consumers grew more confident about the economy's future, even while their views on the current situation slipped as April turned into May, according to data released Thursday.