America, why aren't you shopping? ...... Your corporate overlords are growing impatient.

[marmar]

Sep 3, 2009, 1:07 p.m. EST

Consumers patronize lower-price retailers in August
By Andria Cheng, MarketWatch


NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Retailers posted mixed August sales Thursday, with budget-conscious consumers continuing to favor lower-priced retailers and those carrying food and consumables over apparel and department stores.

Still, just as the economic reports have posted mixed signals about the pace of economic recovery while suggesting the worst is behind, retailers' results also indicated a slightly more optimistic but still cautious and hesitant shopper.

Overall, August sales continued to decline, by 2%, though that's the smallest drop since September 2008, according to trade group International Council of Shopping Centers. The group forecast September sales to also drop 2%.

"Retail same store sales clearly bottomed in July," said Ken Perkins of Retail Metrics. "We expect sequential monthly improvement into the holidays with Christmas 2009 likely to be weak but not disastrous."

Job losses and the recession have changed the way consumers shop as they saved money and mostly bought non-essential things, only if spurred by promotions and discounts, analysts said. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sluggish-back-to-school-sales-dent-august-results-2009-09-03?link=kiosk

[Junkdrawer]

1. Mandate buying...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6475496&mesg_id=6475496

[kenny blankenship]

5. You have a bright future in the New Democratic Party

[SoCalDem]

2. Like George Bush said.. Fool us once..er.. um..can't get fooled again

:)

[Neecy]

3. My shopping habits have changed dramatically

I own two homes that I'm currently renovating - one is a standard brick ranch, the other is a beautiful old turn of the century Victorian. Usually I'd just buy my materials at Home Depot or Lowe's, but the corporate behavior of these companies makes me ill.

So, when I need something like paint or fixtures or drywall I'm patronizing my small local hardware store, where at least the money is staying in the community. I'm also into recycling materials so I'm picking up things here and there at the various Habitat for Humanity ReStores nearby, or from craigslist.

If huge corporations want to hire lobbyists and try to affect or otherwise fuck with my life, at least I don't have to contribute to it unless I absolutely have to.

[jwirr]

4. Too broke to be fooled again. None of the stimulus has helped me

in anyway to be more able to go out and buy.

[CoffeeCat]

6. Sorry corporate overlords...

We propped you up for as long as we could. We're all tapped out.

I feel like I need "insurance" (lots of savings) to prepare for uncertainty. I have no idea what will happen, but it's
possible that the entire economy tanks.

I'd much rather have food and shelter if things get worse--than window clings from Target and leather ottomans from Pottery Barn.

Sorry.

[DBoon]

11. Sorry corporate overlords..

You took away our social safety net. You said we need to take individual responsibility for our healthcare, and have guitted our insurance benefits. You keep raising the cost of college for our kids, and cutting financial aid. You have destroyed pensions and replaced them with worthless individual savings plans.

We have no choice but to start saving money to make sure we don't end up hungry, homeless, and sick.

Too bad we don't spend more on the useless tchotckes you try to sell us. Your falling profits truly cause us pain. We feel sorry for you.

[nevergiveup]

7. I own a small Ma and Pa retail store/mail order business

and August was the first break even month we have had since May 2008. We had been running down by anywhere from 20 to 40% on a monthly basis. We were barely hanging on in a business with a 35 year history. The pick up started the last 2 weeks of July and has been consistent through today. The first 5 days of Sept. are up 25% over last year. We are far from out of the woods and have a long way to go but if the trend continues I will be hiring back a couple of employees this fall.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. I'd happily trade in my old toaster for a new one

maybe that's the way!

[rwheeler31]

9. I may buy bread tomorrow.

[Anakin Skywalker]

10. Corporate Scumbags Get Bail-Outs. We Don't!

F*ck that!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

12. Raises would be nice

I work for the State and they have barely enough money to keep our services going, so raises regardless of performance, are clearly out of the question. I believe that this will be the 2nd(?) year without a raise or even a COLA. Meanwhile, the price of everything elsewhere is going up. Can't keep up with it and we are mostly just sticking with essentials. Sucks but you do what you have to do. I don't really have any time to worry about what our "corporate overlords" think about our "non-spending" habits.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

13. I'm about to buy a 42" LED TV.

I just bought a bunch of golf clubs on Ebay what else do they want.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. Memo to brilliant economists: That's what got us into the mess..you assholes.

[ccinamon]

15. +1 .....n/t

[texanwitch]

16. People need money and jobs to buy things.

Funny how the concept got lost in the business world.