thier two day meeting kicking off today. ritika gupta is in new york for us.the doom and gloom elsewhere and they are still willing to spend, so what is going on? it willing to spend, so what is going on?— going on? it was a healthy u tick going on? it was a healthy notick for— going on? it was a healthy uptick for the _ going on? it was a healthy uptick for the month - going on? it was a healthy uptick for the month of. uptick for the month of november, underscoring what has been a pretty resilient consumer in a crucial holiday shopping period with black friday and cyber monday so that is part of it, so a lot of the strength is down to online shopping and also an back—up in car sales, shopping and also an back—up in carsales, but shopping and also an back—up in car sales, but there is a mixed nuanced report if you look in detail because there was a slowdown in grocery sales and restaurants, but the data coming just a day before the federal reserve decision, so maybe a strengthening the case as markets expect a quarter point cut to interest rates, but the unce

thiere's been a number of number of fallen trees ——there's been... ..across the country — this was inorthcawl in wales. this tree has come down in oxford street, burnham—on—sea. the storm has also brought destruction to areas all along the coasts of south and north—west wales. simon harnaman, from redland in bristol, was woken in the middle of the night by his 16—year—old son who had heard a "loud screech and an enormous crack". and this is what simon they saw when they looked outside — the family car, which had just come back from a two—week spell at the garage, covered by a large tree. the seaside town of porthcawl, in bridgend county, often gets battered with strong winds. usually, they bring huge waves crashing over the front. but on friday night, storm darragh also saw a section of roof from this property at rest bay torn off. and there's been plenty of travel disruption — on the roads as well as rail services being affeted. awful conditions in many parts of the uk, not least wales. you watching bbc news. —— you are watching bbc news. —— you are watching bbc news. —— you are watc