Tag Archives: consumer spending

Higher Retail Sales Point to Consumer Health

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Consumers are buying more, a reflection of improving incomes and the jobs market. The U.S. Census Bureau announced Wednesday that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for February, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday … Continue reading →

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Expanding Service Sector Will Boost Growth

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Why are stock indexes breaking records? Part of it is because of record corporate profits (which affects price-to-earnings ratios), up 20 annually since the end of 2008, as well as good job news that is boosting investor optimism. … Continue reading →

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No Double Dip Recession—Why Worry?

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Goldman Sachs chief economist Jan Hatzius has joined the chorus that says 2013 should be a good year for growth, in spite of the so-called ‘fiscal headwinds’ of a gridlocked Congress and White House. Why? Because both … Continue reading →

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Why Are Consumers So Unhappy?

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly It shouldn’t be a secret, by now. Consumers are unhappy. And it’s not because we are too busy paying down our debts. It’s really because no one in Washington has been focusing on job creation—at least since … Continue reading →

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Happy New Year—A 2013 Recovery!

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Any doubts how dependent the rest of the world is on U.S. growth was dispelled on ratification of the ‘fiscal cliff’ bill by Congress. The world’s stock markets rallied on the news. The DOW was up + … Continue reading →

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Falling Households Incomes—The Real ‘Fiscal Cliff’

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly It is household income that is falling off a cliff. This is partly due to the busted housing bubble and subsequent Great Recession that shaved 40 percent from household wealth. But household incomes haven’t been rising as … Continue reading →

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It’s the Consumers Turn

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly We know that consumers will continue to push economic growth this fall and winter for several reasons. Firstly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly JOLTS report showed 3.6 million job openings (yellow line), and more than 4 … Continue reading →

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Two Percent Growth Isn’t ‘New’ Normal

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly There are many ways to look at the “weak” 2 percent growth numbers for Q3, though just the ‘Advance Estimate’ and so subject to at least 2 more revisions. But such weak growth isn’t due to excessive … Continue reading →

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Increased Consumer Spending a Good Sign

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The most recent retail sales show consumers are able to spend more, even as they borrow more. Add to that credit card delinquencies are at an 18-year low, according to credit reporting company Transunion Corp., and we have … Continue reading →

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Dear Supercommittee: “It’s Consumer Spending, Stupid!”

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs “With only about a month remaining before its recommendations are due, lawmakers on the congressional supercommittee charged with finding savings from the federal budget wrestled with cuts to defense, foreign aid and other programs on Wednesday”, said Bloomberg … Continue reading →

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