Posted on 12/22/2004 10:26:06 PM PST by carl in alaska
WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) - With most major economic indicators out of the way until the beginning of next year, economists can't resist peeking under the Christmas tree to try to get a sense of how strong the retail season will be.
And while hard data is admittedly scarce, economists are sensing a strong shopping season.
"It is hard to be conclusive. But from what I see and feel - confidence moving up...it seems like it is going to be a pretty good Christmas," said Stephen Gallagher, chief U.S. economist at Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking.
The holiday season is critical for retailers, but also for the economy. The numbers can be staggering. Last year, consumers spent $521 million on Christmas trees alone, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and consumers spent $31.1 billion in department stores last December.
Strong sales, combined with lean inventories, may give the economy a boost going into next year, Gallagher said.
Inventories are low relative to the amount of spending going on, and this is leading to a jump in orders.
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I'm in Singapore, so this does not pertain to the US, but the Singapore economy generally dovetails nicely with the US economy, since it is very consumer driven as well. That being written, it is CRAZY here. Singapore has about a twenty percent Christian population, but the entire Island is going crazy shopping and buying Christmas gifts. You can hardly walk Orchard Road it is so crowded, as are all the stores, as are all the streets. It took my mother and I half-hour to go four blocks in a taxi yesterday since so many people were out and about shopping.
You mean this isn't the worst economy in the last 50 years? How could you possible arrive at your optimistic conclusion? :)
There must not be soup lines 5 miles long where he lives.
There must not be. The motto of the Democratic Party: Working everyday to build longer soup lines. We're here for you. :)
I constantly avoid the MSM--all my news sources are on the internet, talk radio, or straight from the horse's mouth. The housing & home furnishings industries are rocking right now. Auto sales are a little soft but should rebound as gasoline prices stabilize and new models hit the market. Meanwhile in the Democrat cloak room, Tom Daschle is deeply troubled by all this positive news.
Yes, it's better to get your news straight from the horse's mouth than to get it from the horse's pitoot (the MSM).
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