Jim Haughey
Jim Haughey
christmas confidence consumer early fell gasoline last level nearly percent prices pump reports september spend suggest third
Gasoline pump prices fell by a third from early September to early December, and the Consumer Confidence Index was nearly back to the pre-hurricane level by Thanksgiving. Early reports suggest that Christmas shoppers will spend 6 percent to 7 percent more than last year.
costs half increase rise various
Generally, the increase in various costs accounted for half of the rise in spending.
blow burned past people question september stop until wait
That is the question people haven't been burned for 3-4 years, and we'll have to wait until September to see if they'll blow past the stop sign.