Posted on 02/14/2014 7:12:35 AM PST by Kaslin
In a rare, back-to-back performance, retail sales in the US fell for the second month after a downward revision put December sales into the red.
Blame the Weather
In a blame the weather tactic Reuters reports Retail Demand a Bit Cooler.
While the two straight months of declining sales most likely reflected frigid temperatures, there were also signs of general weakness creeping in as online sales also fell.
Stripping out automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, so-called core sales fell 0.3 percent. Core sales for December were revised to only a 0.3 percent rise from a previously reported 0.7 percent advance. November's core sales figure was also revised down.
Core sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product.
The downward revisions to November and December core sales suggest that fourth-quarter consumer spending and economic growth were not as strong as initially thought.
GDP Estimates
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.townhall.com ...
Bush’s fault
Just remember, none of this can be blamed on the policies of Obama. There is always someone else, or some outside force such as weather, to blame for bad economic news. The policies of this president can never be blamed for anything. (Sarcasm)
“Surprise” = UNEXPECTED
(drink up)
I would LOVE to put the onus on an Obamabot and ask them just what Obama could conceivably do which would warrant impeachment, or, at least, his loss of their support.
Dang! Somebody screwed up on operating the funny-number generator. But don’t worry, they’ll get it working again by next month.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-14/it-was-so-cold-january-even-internet-froze
Hard to blame the weather when online sales also dropped...
Hey, they can blame the Obozocare website glitches... or something.
Translation: Surprise = we haven’t figured out how to blame it on Bush yet.
Of course sales are down - with so many out of work what else could you expect? And it’s not going to get better until the current administration is dumped into the dustbin of history.
I am currently in Walt Disney World for our 25th anniversary - I would estimate it’s approx. 75% non-English speakers here this week. Many Americans just can’t afford it (and it’s a stretch for us as well - but you only have 1 25th anniversary).
OH! How fun! Happy Anniversary!
Was the weather bad then, too? This was Christmas sales. There is always an excuse, as they dance around what is obvious to most of us here. Obama's policies, and Obama's policies alone are causing a weak economy.
Based on my experience that's fairly typical.
Global warming, that’s it.
The real estate market looks like it's a downturn, too.
“the downward revisions to November and December core sales suggest that fourth-quarter consumer spending and economic growth were not as strong as initially thought.”
Gee what a surprise.
They also note that on line sales slumped. Probably due to the weather too with all the power failures making ordering impossible.
I also read in a trade journal recently that GM cars are stacking up in the supply chain due to over production and that incentives will be increased to move them.
With Obozocare the law of the land, people see the rising cost of coverage and deductibles, people shop for food and notice the downsizing of various products though the price doesn’t downsize alone with it, people see the rise in electric bills, people are seeing the rise in property taxes, so who in their right mind would not cut back on spending?
Double hit....the general trend, without consideration of weather, has been up in online sales. And bad weather move ssales from stores to online....so retail is REALLY down.
You guys just don’t understand economics, tht’s all. I heard on the local news this morning that the reason for this is because schools were closed for a few days because of the cold weather. Therefore the parents lost a few days of work and don’t have the money to buy a bunch of stuff.
The sad part is the news reader said it without laughing.
“Hard to blame the weather when online sales also dropped...”
Good catch!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.