Free Republic

No Credit. No Economy. By Eric Fry 12/09/09 Laguna Beach, California – “The great American consumer deleveraging continues,” our colleagues at The 5-Minute Forecast observed yesterday. “The Fed announced that consumer credit shrank for a record ninth month in a row in October.” Consumer credit, as we all know, drives a big chunk of consumer spending, which drives a big chunk of the American economy. Ergo, no credit; no economy. But consumers are not the only borrowers between the Atlantic and the Pacific who contribute to economic activity. Commercial and industrial (C&I) borrowers also play a large role. The dots...

Nikkei Falls 1.1% As Yen, Credit Worries WeighBy Aiko Hayashi Wed Dec 9, 2009 11:44pm * Credit woes in Dubai, Greece weigh on confidence - analyst * Sharp rebound rally may have come to an end - analyst * Suzuki down after Volkswagen deal announcement TOKYO, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average fell 1.1 percent on Thursday after a recent sharp rebound, as credit troubles overseas weighed on investor confidence and a stronger yen pressured shares of exporters. Suzuki Motor (7269.T) skidded nearly 5 percent, erasing the gain logged Wednesday on hopes for an alliance agreement with Volkswagen, after...