Your high grocery bill could be an economic indicator

(CNN)– How do you feel about the U.S. economy? That’s the core question behind the consumer confidence index out today.

But a simple measure of how Americans feel about the economy might be a trip to the supermarket.

Wage growth isn’t making up for historically high prices completely. A new report shows record U.S. credit card debt in the fourth quarter of last year.

Kellogg’s is now advertising cereal as a dinner food. With a lawsuit filed yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission is trying to block the largest supermarket merger in American history.

Kroger and Albertsons say uniting would offset the cost of their unionized workforces.

The FTC argues the deal would reduce competition and raise food prices.