Mark Vitner
Mark Vitner
coming consumer disaster faster help hit minimize money natural relief
The relief money is coming in much faster than it has for any other natural disaster that I can remember. That should help minimize some of the hit on consumer spending,
consumers economy-and-economics fairly holiday season worried
Consumers are fairly worried about the economy. ... I think the holiday season is going to be ho-hum,
consumers
It is important to look at what consumers are doing, not what they are saying,
consumers economy economy-and-economics housing leadership shift unusual
The leadership in the economy is going to shift from housing and consumers to businesses. There's nothing unusual about that. It's healthy.
affect beautiful consumers gasoline higher market prices stock weather
It (consumer sentiment) was a little higher than expected, but the stock market has come back, gasoline prices have come down, and the weather has been beautiful and that has to affect consumers somewhat.
confidence consumer early economic sequence stages uncommon
The two-steps-forward, one-step-back sequence is not at all uncommon for the Consumer Confidence Index during the early stages of an economic recovery.
behavior change changes consumers eat effect felt further gasoline gradually high months prices recent seen stay
High gasoline prices gradually eat away at income. The effect isn't felt all at once. We have seen consumers change their behavior in recent months and there should be further changes if prices stay at these levels.
broaden consumer drought greater larger led longer mystery persists profit prolonged recession risk slump
The mystery is why this prolonged profit slump has not led to a larger cutback in consumer spending, ... The longer the profit drought persists the greater the risk is that this recession will broaden and deepen.
claims cold coming confidence consumer drop face heels including looking reports retail sales sharp slap stronger
Coming on the heels of stronger reports on retail sales and durable-goods orders, as well as a sharp drop in first-time claims for unemployment, this ... drop in consumer confidence was a cold slap in the face to all of those economists, including ourselves, that are looking for a second-half rebound.
both bright concerned consumers economy employment figure less likely rapidly rise sitting spending spot stock
The more important figure (than confidence) for the economy is what consumers actually do. Consumers are not sitting on their wallets just yet. But that is about the only bright spot in this morning's report. With consumers concerned about both their stock portfolios and employment prospects, spending will likely rise a little less rapidly this fall.
acceptable businesses consumer cooling curb economic falling growth months orders production reason recent risen spending
The No. 1 reason new orders and production are falling is that inventories have risen in recent months as consumer spending has slowed, ... Such a buildup was acceptable when economic growth was accelerating. Now that growth is cooling off, businesses will need to curb stockpiles.
accounting company markets pension surprising
But pension accounting is awfully complicated and it's an awfully big company, so it's not surprising the markets would get a little spooked by it.
continues defy demand doom housing quite record remains strong year
It continues to defy all the expectations of doom in the housing market. Demand for housing still remains quite strong and this year will be a record year for single-family construction.
accounts motor overall percent rebound retail rise sales vehicle
A rebound in motor vehicle sales accounts for much of December's 0.7 percent rise in overall retail sales and is also responsible for much of November's upward revision.