Retail Sales In US Climb the Most in Five Months as Recovery Takes Hold

[Blackjack200]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...st-in-five-months-as-recovery-takes-hold.html

That liberal rag Bloomberg.com is reporting that the economy is really starting to gain strength. I'll be interested to see the spinsters go to work on this one.

Thanks Obama, can't wait for the next 4 years of job growth and recovery. :thumbsup:

b-b-but the price of gas!!!!!

 

[ch33zw1z]

Good for the economy and all of us. Hopefully employers will begin to stop lay offs and give unemployment a break.

 

[Genx87]

I like how the OP is wondering about spin while puts his own on the situation. Obama is responsible for retail growth lol

 

[dphantom]

and before we get too excited, much of the sales gain was related to higher fuel prices in February as the same article indicates. Nevertheless, there is some growth albiet far too low for a normal recovery at this point.

 

[Blackjack200]

I like how the OP is wondering about spin while puts his own on the situation. Obama is responsible for retail growth lol

click

1!

As an aside, I was listening to the BBC world service this morning and they had an economist on talking about the difference between the economic policies in the UK and the US.

The UK moved toward governmental austerity while the US pumped billions of dollars into the economy through the stimulus and bailouts. The result? The UK's economy is flat while the US's is growing.

They said that economists generally give the fiscal policies Obama put in place much of the credit for the turnaround. (To be fair, I haven't verified that, that was his take.)

 

[Texashiker]

What I see is nothing more then seasonal sales, and people spending their income tax returns.

Before people get too excited, lets wait and see what April and May looks like.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Or the summer for that matter. Higher gas prices may = more staycations, which = less money spent at touristy type locations.

 

[Ausm]

I like how the OP is wondering about spin while puts his own on the situation. Obama is responsible for retail growth lol

I actually would give House Republicans credit...:biggrin:

 

[Blackjack200]

What I see is nothing more then seasonal sales, and people spending their income tax returns.

Before people get too excited, lets wait and see what April and May looks like.

click

2!

 

[Texashiker]

click

2!

?? What does that mean?

 

[Nintendesert]

?? What does that mean?

This is a circle-jerk thread, you shouldn't be in here posting dissenting opinions on the article.

 

[peonyu]

Until the death spiral stops I dont think we will ever see a full recovery. Instead we will continue to be fed bullshit lies by the media claiming that there is a massive recovery happening [we are nearing election time so Obama needs the help I guess]. By "death spiral" I am referring to the common wages the majority of our population make and its direct relation to retail prices and purchases made.

Since the economy went to shit, retail prices have gone up across the board, often using the excuse of "gas costs us more so we charge more" and also "we sell less so we have to price higher". Of course, few people have seen their paychecks become larger at the same time this is happening...Actually its the opposite, hours were and still are being cut, wages are less due to that, raises are miniscule for most people as well. The cost of diapers is atleast 15% higher today than it was 6 years ago - ditto for food from most anywhere. Retail luxery items ? Same issue there, prices have gone up by a large percent across the board..

In the meantime how many workers have seen their wages increased by 10-20% to compensate ? *crickets*. Thats right hardly anyone has, yet we are supposed to believe everything is fine and dandy despite that. It is nearing election time though, brace yourselves for more BS until either Obama or someone else is elected then we may get back to reality.


Also - income taxes like another poster said. That easily explains this blip in the radar for purchases.

 

[Blackjack200]

Until the death spiral stops I dont think we will ever see a full recovery. Instead we will continue to be fed bullshit lies by the media claiming that there is a massive recovery happening [we are nearing election time so Obama needs the help I guess]. By "death spiral" I am referring to the common wages the majority of our population make and its direct relation to retail prices and purchases made.

Since the economy went to shit, retail prices have gone up across the board, often using the excuse of "gas costs us more so we charge more" and also "we sell less so we have to price higher". Of course, few people have seen their paychecks become larger at the same time this is happening...Actually its the opposite, hours were and still are being cut, wages are less due to that, raises are miniscule for most people as well. The cost of diapers is atleast 15% higher today than it was 6 years ago - ditto for food from most anywhere. Retail luxery items ? Same issue there, prices have gone up by a large percent across the board..

In the meantime how many workers have seen their wages increased by 10-20% to compensate ? *crickets*. Thats right hardly anyone has, yet we are supposed to believe everything is fine and dandy despite that. It is nearing election time though, brace yourselves for more BS until either Obama or someone else is elected then we may get back to reality.


Also - income taxes like another poster said. That easily explains this blip in the radar for purchases.

click

3!

Oh man, these folks gonna be mad when Obama gets re-elected. :biggrin:

 

[woolfe9999]

What I see is nothing more then seasonal sales, and people spending their income tax returns.

Before people get too excited, lets wait and see what April and May looks like.

The retail sales data is seasonally adjusted, and furthermore, it is being compared to the same month from the previous year.

http://www.esa.doc.gov/sites/defaul...lesforretailandfoodservicesfebruary2012_2.pdf

There is, however, one legitimate qualifier: it isn't adjusted for price changes. Doesn't matter much when comparing it to the previous month, but it does matter some when comparing it to the same month from last year.

 

[Ausm]

click

3!

Oh man, these folks gonna be mad when Obama gets re-elected. :biggrin:

+1

 

[peonyu]

click

3!

Oh man, these folks gonna be mad when Obama gets re-elected. :biggrin:

I believe our Government is so corrupt at this point that it doesnt matter who we have as a figurehead/President. Obama or even Bush are not to blame for the economy, instead take a look at the shadowy figures in Congress who have been there for 40+ years and no one hears about. Those people the "lifetime" Politicians have been there since the days of Reagan and a President will definitely listen to them, we change our President every 4 or 8 years but we never change our dirty underwear which is what our Congress has become. In the end you still smell of shit even if you take a bath since you are wearing shit stained underwear [congress].

 

[Theb]

What I see is nothing more then seasonal sales, and people spending their income tax returns.

Before people get too excited, lets wait and see what April and May looks like.

Don't you point this out in most economics threads? The thing you need to understand is that seasons are not a one time thing, they happen every year.

 

[Texashiker]

Don't you point this out in most economics threads? The thing you need to understand is that seasons are not a one time thing, they happen every year.

And every year around this time it seems someone is talking about how the economy is turning around.

Lets wait until April, May, June and July to see how the economy truly looks. If gas hits $4 - $5 a gallon, and nobody can afford to take a vacation, tax returns spent,, lets see how things look then.

Between February, March and April, everyone that is going to get a tax return is running to get their taxes done and get their money. From there its a bee-line to the nearest mall or wal-mart to buy stuff.

For lower and middle income families, tax return time is the only time of year they have extra money. This is when the families can afford to buy that computer, new TV, make a down payment on a car, maybe even put a down payment on a house.

 

[piasabird]

How about this? Guess what is one of the number one thing people are stealing at the store?

Food? Booze? Diamands?

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!

They are stealing Tide Detergent. They are really cleaning up!


This is a video link!
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trendin...g-stolen-stores-across-country-162253268.html

So do you think this means the country is in a recovery?

 

[piasabird]

I got a big bonus last year. Oh, Right; I got nothing. Guess I am lucky they still pay me.

 

[DrPizza]

And every year around this time it seems someone is talking about how the economy is turning around.

Lets wait until April, May, June and July to see how the economy truly looks. If gas hits $4 - $5 a gallon, and nobody can afford to take a vacation, tax returns spent,, lets see how things look then.

Between February, March and April, everyone that is going to get a tax return is running to get their taxes done and get their money. From there its a bee-line to the nearest mall or wal-mart to buy stuff.

For lower and middle income families, tax return time is the only time of year they have extra money. This is when the families can afford to buy that computer, new TV, make a down payment on a car, maybe even put a down payment on a house.

It was explained to you, but you don't seem to comprehend. The numbers are seasonally adjusted. That means that AFTER accounting for increased spending from tax returns, sales are up. Thus, your claim that sales are up as a result of tax returns is incorrect.

 

[Genx87]

?? What does that mean?

It means if you dont go along with the OP 110% you are spinning this as a negative towards Obama. People give politicians way too much credit and way too much fault in how the economy works. Obama's plan nearly 4 years later is apparently working. No, it couldnt be a natural cycle after an economic collapse that we are finally seeing the end of the tunnel could it?

 

[monovillage]

This is a circle-jerk thread, you shouldn't be in here posting dissenting opinions on the article.

Another "recovery summer" seasonally adjusted of course. Courtesy of the Obama administration.

"Obama, Biden declare 'Recovery Summer'"
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38654.html

June 17, 2010

 

[Blackjack200]

It means if you dont go along with the OP 110% you are spinning this as a negative towards Obama. People give politicians way too much credit and way too much fault in how the economy works. Obama's plan nearly 4 years later is apparently working. No, it couldnt be a natural cycle after an economic collapse that we are finally seeing the end of the tunnel could it?

Right.

Well, except that Europe also had a collapse at the same time we did, and after adopting austerity measureas (as many Republicans would be infavor of) as opposed to fiscal stimulus, they are stagnating or are in decline.

Can't wait to vote for Obama again to keep this growth going. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Maybe I'll even vote twice! :awe:

 

[irishScott]

I disagree that the article shows anything substantial on logical grounds, and that we should wait and see if the recovery lasts before making judgements.

But this simple logic has the potential to take Blackjack off his Obama-high, so:

Click!

4!

Feel better discounting logical opinions? A short-term recovery was basically guarranteed by the stimulus. Let's see how long it lasts.