Robert Barbera
Robert Barbera
consumers good looked news numbers sentiment spending
If spending numbers looked like sentiment numbers, we'd be back in recession, ... The good news is that consumers are complaining, but they're spending.
asian boom consistent dollar growth housing huge percent reason trade versus wildly
You've got a housing boom that is consistent with 8 percent GDP growth. The reason growth is not there is that the dollar is wildly overvalued versus Asian currencies, and we have this huge trade deficit.
call consumer domestic gross growth home housing notion question reflecting shrinking spending year
Faltering U.S. new home sales, reflecting shrinking housing affordability, call into question the notion of another year above-trend growth for U.S. consumer spending and real gross domestic product.
case cash change enduring energy market reality reflecting tight
First the cash market went up, reflecting the reality of a very tight supply-demand situation. Then the futures went up, making the case this was an enduring change in energy prices.
recovery signs supposed
You're supposed to see recovery signs and they really are right on cue.
appeared compare happy last looks point saying sensitive somewhat stores weeks
The most important point for me is that, in a lot of economically sensitive areas, there appeared to be a pickup. Compare with stores saying they're happy with the last two weeks of sales, and it looks like we're on somewhat firmer footing.
benefit late means
What it means is that with the benefit of hindsight, the late '90s never happened,