Comments on: Who’s spending more this holiday season? http://www.creditwritedowns.com/2009/12/whos-spending-more-this-holiday-season.html Finance, Economics and Markets Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Terry http://www.creditwritedowns.com/2009/12/whos-spending-more-this-holiday-season.html#comment-57752 Terry Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:01:00 +0000 http://www.creditwritedowns.com/2009/12/whos-spending-more-this-holiday-season.html#comment-57752 Well, sometimes "retail" isn't "retail." I was surprised by the amount that gasoline spending went up (6%), but I think it's all in the prices. On a YOY basis, that large and almost required expenditures saw regular gas prices jump from $1.60s to $2.60s. The two keys for the moment would appear to be holiday shopping (real near-term) and--over several months--the broader area of discretionary spending. I haven't seen anything systematic that makes say holiday shopping is up, and I think it is way to early to judge discretionary spending. I'm still thinking there is another dip in this recession, probably in the first half of next year--and that's not too far from your view I don't think. Well, sometimes “retail” isn’t “retail.” I was surprised by the amount that gasoline spending went up (6%), but I think it’s all in the prices. On a YOY basis, that large and almost required expenditures saw regular gas prices jump from $1.60s to $2.60s.

The two keys for the moment would appear to be holiday shopping (real near-term) and–over several months–the broader area of discretionary spending. I haven’t seen anything systematic that makes say holiday shopping is up, and I think it is way to early to judge discretionary spending.

I’m still thinking there is another dip in this recession, probably in the first half of next year–and that’s not too far from your view I don’t think.

]]> By: Gary D Anderson http://www.creditwritedowns.com/2009/12/whos-spending-more-this-holiday-season.html#comment-57751 Gary D Anderson Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:06:00 +0000 http://www.creditwritedowns.com/2009/12/whos-spending-more-this-holiday-season.html#comment-57751 But you need to know that these numbers for retail sales are cooked. They don't include closed stores and transfer that traffic to open stores. You can see that the sales receipts of the states are worse than these retail stats. http://hubpages.com/hub/retail-store-closing-list But you need to know that these numbers for retail sales are cooked. They don’t include closed stores and transfer that traffic to open stores. You can see that the sales receipts of the states are worse than these retail stats. http://hubpages.com/hub/retail-store-closing-list

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