Personal Spending, Income Up In September – The Commerce Department reported today that consumer spending went up 0.8 percent in September, the best showing since February. September’s consumer spending, which followed a 0.5 percent August gain, is significant because it drives about 70 percent of economic activity and shows rising consumer confidence. Personal income increased 0.4 percent in September, the best gain since March. National Public Radio

San Francisco Giants sweep Detroit Tigers to win World Series – The San Francisco Giants won baseball’s coveted championship for the second time in the last three years. The Giants won the World Series with a four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers. Tampa Bay Times

Hurricane, and Other Worries, Buffet Presidential Race – A hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean could stop two campaigns dead in their tracks. Hurricane Sandy, a category one storm washing up on shores from North Carolina to Connecticut, has put a damper on early voting efforts and has caused campaign stops for both Romney and President Obama to be cancelled. The president also must change hats, from campaigner to head of state, in dealing with the potential disaster. The New York Times

Report faults states’ oversight of specialty pharmacies – A congressional report released today found that state regulators failed to monitor safety at specialty pharmacies like the one at the center of the deadly fungal meningitis outbreak. Despite nearly 60 warnings about unsafe compounded drugs from the FDA beginning in June 2001, only six states had records of taking additional action. The Washington Post