After getting worrisome signs about consumers from bankers’ earnings reports, investors will be looking at a broad range of companies this week for further insights into the outlook for the economy. Consumer-focused companies including Apple Inc., McDonald’s Corp., appliance maker Whirlpool Corp.

Around the Web: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Home Page) EDGAR (SEC) Database SEC, CFTC Release Report On Harmonizing Oversight SEC to look into Rajaratnam issue SEC Brings in a Goldman Exec

Hey, with the economy perking up, the Dow recently sprinting above 10,000, a sizzling jump of more than 50% from its March low, and growing talk out of Washington that we’ll have a national health bill before year end, things are slowly starting to look honky dory again to a lot of folks. Not, though, to the 15.1 million Americans who are no longer getting paychecks, nor the residents of the growing number of states being stung by double-digit unemployment rates.

In these recessionary times, millions of Americans have found themselves drowning in one of the most expensive types of debt out there – credit card debt. Thanks to the Credit Card Act of 2009 , however, relief is on its way. Come February 22, 2010 (and potentially as soon as December 1, 2009 ) there will be new consumer protections put in place.