For Christmas this year my wife is knitting me a scarf and I am making her a cutting board out of some hardwood scraps I’ve had hanging around for years. I’m putting up a couple of strands of outdoor lights to entertain the little kids in the neighborhood.
70% of the economy is consumer spending. The big profit month for most retailers is the Holiday Season. All the Hopey Changey folks better dump extra billions into the economy starting in November. But they won’t ‘cause they can’t.
......I am making her a cutting board......
You are following the advice of that great American economist, Professor Walter E Williams, who set the example by giving his wife an new ironing board cover and some vacuum cleaner bags.
I know I'm coming late to the thread, thought I'd kick in my $0.02.
To your comment, and for the other posters.... I used to work at a large garment manufacturer. (You've seen their stores, and their products, unless you live under a rock).
Anyway, a few weeks ago I was talking with one of the few people I know who still work there. Guy works at their Distribution Center (DC); the place is huge, like 500,000 ft^2 under roof. Back-to-School is their biggest time. Right now the DC should be going three shifts and Saturdays (they don't really work Sunday, just "essential" services).
Instead, last month it was working a staggered 1-1/2 shifts, and no weekends.
So, rather than going a full-bore 24/6, they're working a scant 12/5. And this is at the top of the chain, if they're not shipping product, then product isn't going on shelves and people aren't buying.
Back-To-School is this company's BIG moneymaker, with XMas a distant second. I'll likely be yakking with this guy in Sept/Oct, I'm curious to see what the holidays are bringing.
I'd like to be optimistic, but I think that we're a good ways from getting out of this mess. Especially since the current leadership won't stop digging us deeper.