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HomeComparing Holiday Sales: 2008 vs 2012 . . .
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 3rd, 2013 10:38 AM |
Did Santa’s pack look a little light this year?
Is it just me or do you also seem to think that many analysts are quick to dismiss the fact that Santa’s pack (i.e overall holiday sales) was decidedly light this year? Well, overall holiday sales are projected to have risen a disappointingly .7% year over year.
While sales may have risen, why is it that little focus is put on total sales revenue comparative analysis? With ‘discounting’ now a core part of our economy, comparing total sales revenue is a topic not often discussed. That said, let’s navigate and instead of merely comparing holiday sales in 2012 vs 2011, let’s go back and compare sales in 2012 vs 2008. Why 2008? (more…)
Unemployment Report Review, April 1, 2011: We Need Yeast
Posted by Larry Doyle on April 1st, 2011 8:52 AM |
This morning’s Unemployment Report may be presented as another in an ongoing series of gradually improving signs of economic recovery. That said, the report lacks one vitally important ingredient. What is that?
Yeast.
What? “LD, what the heck are you talking about?”
As any trained chef knows, “it’s the yeast that makes the dough rise!!” On that note, while pundits and analysts may care to focus on the headline unemployment rate declining to 8.8% and non-farm payrolls increasing by 216k, for those focused on the structural health and well being of our economy, I encourage you to focus on wages. (more…)
How Long Will ‘Walking Pneumonia’ Economy Last?
Posted by Larry Doyle on July 20th, 2010 6:28 AM |
I have told many people that I equate our current economic situation to a serious case of ‘walking pneumonia.’ If you have suffered from that dreadful malady, as I have, you can appreciate my sentiments. While we are going to live, and will move on from our current condition, the question everybody wants to know is how long will this sluggish, sickening episode last?
I wish I was so prescient as to be able to pinpoint the month and year when our economy may return to real vitality. I am neither that smart nor that egotistical. I do strongly believe, though, that we are looking at a number of years of continued underperformance. (more…)
Goldman’s Hatzius v Morgan’s Kasman: “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble”
Posted by Larry Doyle on October 30th, 2009 11:20 AM |
I love a good debate. Much like a prize fight, a healthy debate can ebb and flow as those ‘in the ring’ bob and weave while trying to score points. I so enjoyed a debate highlighted by The Wall Street Journal between the chief economists from Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan that I highlighted it in the Newsworthy section of Sense on Cents. For those who don’t visit that section of my site, I am compelled to replay this debate here.
In the inimitable words of Michael Buffer, “let’s get ready to rumble” as Goldman, J.P. Morgan Economists Debate Shape of Recovery:
The recession might be over, but how goes the recovery?
We posed that question to two prominent Wall Street economists with two very different views of 2010. Bruce Kasman, chief economist at J.P. Morgan, sees the U.S. growing at about a 3.5% pace for most of next year. That appears optimistic compared to Jan Hatzius, chief economist at Goldman Sachs, who sees gross domestic product growth of 2% or so at the start of the year tapering off to just 1.5% by year-end.
The following is an edited transcript of their remarks during a recent conference call with The Wall Street Journal.
Looking ahead to 2010, what kind of recovery do you see? (more…)
