Posted on 04/27/2011 6:58:06 PM PDT by Altura Ct.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Wal-Mart's core shoppers are running out of money much faster than a year ago due to rising gasoline prices, and the retail giant is worried, CEO Mike Duke said Wednesday.
"We're seeing core consumers under a lot of pressure," Duke said at an event in New York. "There's no doubt that rising fuel prices are having an impact."
Wal-Mart shoppers, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, typically shop in bulk at the beginning of the month when their paychecks come in.
Lately, they're "running out of money" at a faster clip, he said.
Wal-Mart's ready to do battle on prices
"Purchases are really dropping off by the end of the month even more than last year," Duke said. "This end-of-month [purchases] cycle is growing to be a concern.
Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500), which averages 140 million shoppers weekly to its stores in the United States, is considered a barometer of the health of the consumer and the economy.
To that end, Duke said he's not seeing signs of a recovery yet.
With food prices rising, Duke said Wal-Mart is charging customers more for some fresh groceries while reducing prices on other merchandise such as electronics.
Wal-Mart has struggled with seven straight quarters of sales declines in its stores.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
EBT = Electronic Bank Transfer
>>> Can someone say Obama’s Depression ? <<<
Can someone declare Obama ‘Man-made Disaster’, category 5 all by himself?
I know that when I still worked full time a lot of companies were going to bi monthly or even once a month pay periods. I figured it was to save on bookkeeping and use less personnel in payroll. I personally for a long time got paid once a month not necessarily on the first or last of month tho.
I’ve taken to saying “You’re welcome” to people checking out with EBT cards ahead of me. I don’t care anymore.
Most people give me a blank look, one baby daddy started cursing at me. I just responded “He’s your president, complain to him.” That guy was hot, and I’m glad the kids weren’t with me.
I don’t say it to everyone. Elderly, disabled, get a pass, though I’m not too happy about government-mandated charity in any case. My family is generous to charities, but we don’t like having our money taken by law.
What are these Walmart bastards complaining about. They’re a major reason why American manufacturing has been offshored to Red China and therefore why Americans don’t have any money. But what do they care? They’ll just open up more stores where the money is, in Red China.
Wow. Such total lack of understanding is amazing. Have you ever heard of capitalism? How about welfare? Socialism? William Bradford? Lyndon Johnson?
There are no late model Alfa Romeos in the US. Alfa stopped US importation in 1995. They will return in 2012 with their 2013 models, but there have been no new US Alfas in the interim.
Walmart is not exactly the model store anymore. They keep reducing what they carry, and now they don’t even keep that in stock.
For later read.
Makes sense though.
But remember, food and gas are not part of inflation!
This happened around 1982. I have no idea what year the Alfa was but it looked new.
around here that's too far for our leeches......fire lane much closer, the leeches usually leave someone in the car, with the motor running...and, of course, that leech has "assumed the position"...slouched down in the seat, phone to the ear....
Oh, bummer - get the **** out of Libya.
An old post-Civil War (reconstruction) saying comes to mind: "Bottom rail on top."
Welcome to Obama World.
Electronic Booty Total
What the hell did they expect?
Everything is doubling and tripling in price, yet wages have been stagnant for 10 years now.
What does an EBT card look like? is it like a regular debit card? or is there something else that makes it distinct looking?
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.