nonessential

Wealthy Americans are helping keep swaths of the economy in good stead as they continue to buy first-class plane tickets and high-end sneakers, while more Americans are clipping coupons and cutting back on nonessentials.

The federal government shut down for the first time in six years late Tuesday, requiring federal agencies to stop all nonessential work.

The first shutdown in six years went into effect late Tuesday and requires federal agencies to stop all nonessential work.

When the government shuts down, the law requires all nonessential government services to cease, requiring most federal workers to go on furlough or work without pay.

Almost 30 years ago, toward the end of President Clinton’s first term in office, Republicans in Congress forced a government shutdown that led some 800,000 nonessential federal workers to be furloughed.