Holiday spending

[StarryEyedLad]

Americans to hold wallets tighter for holidays

by Rob Lever
2 hours, 48 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US consumers, battered by a horrific housing slump and soaring energy costs, are expected to show caution in holiday spending this year, putting more pressure on retailers and the overall economy, analysts say.

Surveys project tepid growth in gift spending for the holiday shopping season set to begin Friday, the day after the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

The grim outlook has retailers starting early promotions and discounts to get consumers out and ensure that stores are not stuck with too much merchandise.

The National Retail Federation is projecting a 4.0 percent rise in holiday spending. A separate survey by Ernst & Young suggests growth of 4.5 percent.

Ratings firm Standard & Poor's predicts general merchandise sales to rise only 3.0 to 3.5 percent, well below increases of 4.9 and 5.8 percent in 2006 and 2005, respectively.

That would keep nearly flat the 250-billion dollar holiday shopping season in November and December that typically accounts for about 23 percent of annual retail sales and even more in profits, according to S&P.


More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071118/ts_afp/useconomyconsumerholiday_071118050253;_ylt=AuDVnNv bhoTcBP2SHDGojGPYa7gF



Wall Street hopes for consumer splurge

Sat Nov 17, 1:31 PM ET

NEW YORK (AFP) - US investors are keeping their fingers crossed that the legendary American consumer has not lost his or her appetite for spending ahead of the crucial pre-Christmas shopping season.

Analysts say the approaching week will be of particular importance because the Thanksgiving holiday week traditionally kicks off an annual shopping fest.

Concerns about the health of the American consumer are mounting, however, because of a nagging housing slump, a related credit crunch and surging energy costs.

Whether the nation's malls bulge with shoppers or struggle to get consumers in the door will have repercussions for Wall Street, which has been buffeted by the housing and credit woes.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average stock barometer gained 1.0 percent in the week to Friday to close at 13.176.79.

The broad market Standard & Poor's 500 rose 0.3 percent to 1,458.74 while the tech-rich Nasdaq increased 0.3 percent to 2,637.24.

With the housing and credit markets on the ropes and rocketing crude oil prices making gasoline more costly at the pump, analysts say consumer spending has become even more vital than usual to US economic well-being.


More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071117/ts_alt_afp/stocksusweekly_071117183151;_ylt=Ap_eGsum497vf51Cl NZUJ6rYa7gF

[Racheal59]

The only spending we'll do is to give money gifts to those we know can use it. Other than that, we may spend on candy and/or a Turkey for some families or fruit basket, etc. But that's it!

I recently purchased a pair of running/walking shoes.....cost us nearly 75.00 dollars! I put off buying a pair for 10 years because I didn't want to waste the money. Well, these were New Balance......I walked in them three times and I've never known such horrific pain in my entire life!!!!! I ended up putting my 10 year old running shoes back on.

Sad part is you cannot take shoes back once you've worn them. So beware of the new NEW BALANCE running/walking shoes! I don't know what they did to them but they are not good anymore.......this is the lighter pair style...avoid them.

Other than that, no, we're curbing spending big time. And getting our 401 and all that into cash till we can talk to a financial advisor.

[Chula]

Don't buy into the doom and gloom.

Be of good cheer. We christians are the light of the world.

[Racheal59]

Be wise as serpents and clever as doves.

[StarryEyedLad]

In my family, we know money-wise things will be tight this Christmas, but it won't stop us from getting together to celebrate the real meaning of the day...the birth of our Savior. :yeah

[Tammy]

Racheal59 Did you try to taking the shoes back? I have taken shoes back after I worn them. I would give it a try.

[Buzzardhut]

In my family, we know money-wise things will be tight this Christmas, but it won't stop us from getting together to celebrate the real meaning of the day...the birth of our Savior. :yeah
My wallet is super tight this year, the tightest it has ever been, by orders of Ms. Buzzard

[Buzzardhut]

The only spending we'll do is to give money gifts to those we know can use it. Other than that, we may spend on candy and/or a Turkey for some families or fruit basket, etc. But that's it!

I recently purchased a pair of running/walking shoes.....cost us nearly 75.00 dollars! I put off buying a pair for 10 years because I didn't want to waste the money. Well, these were New Balance......I walked in them three times and I've never known such horrific pain in my entire life!!!!! I ended up putting my 10 year old running shoes back on.

Sad part is you cannot take shoes back once you've worn them. So beware of the new NEW BALANCE running/walking shoes! I don't know what they did to them but they are not good anymore.......this is the lighter pair style...avoid them.

Other than that, no, we're curbing spending big time. And getting our 401 and all that into cash till we can talk to a financial advisor.
Go to a discount store to buy cheaper running shoes, the trick is buying good insoles and you can replace the insoles every few months

[Racheal59]

Racheal59 Did you try to taking the shoes back? I have taken shoes back after I worn them. I would give it a try.

Boy, I'd kind of feel embarrassed......although the shoes didn't get dirty. I walked on pavement only twice or three times with them. When I looked at them they are really very clean even on the soles.

But back when I was young you never received money back for returned shoes, although we didn't spend that kind of money on them back then either.

I'm not sure......besides it's been a few months now since I purchased them. Not sure now if I can return them. I might give him a call though or maybe stop in and tell him....but my face will be red. So embarrassing to me.

[Racheal59]

Go to a discount store to buy cheaper running shoes, the trick is buying good insoles and you can replace the insoles every few months

That's what I was thinking of doing instead of returning them.. Just get good insoles ..hope it helps.