Fox reports that Christmas spending to increase this holiday season.

[Bullshot]

Can you believe this?

$3 gasoline prices. Record natural gas prices for the coming heating season. Where in the hell are people going to find the disposable income to uphold this claim for the holiday shopping season?

In August, Americans' spending exceeded income for only the second month in the last 50 years. Is this the trend of things to come? Is this how the Fox report can end up being accurate? Are we so stupid that we cannot live within our means?

[jimshoes]

1. Didi they say anything

about the chocolate rations?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. They are UP!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. I sincerely doubt it!

Unless we all get so depressed we get really hammered and spend too much?

[texpatriot2004]

3. No way that's gonna happen. I think Faux is trying to plant an

early seed, a subliminal one...too bad the US environment is not fertile enough for the seed to grow.

Things are worse this year than last.

One caveat, IF all these Rethugs are ousted and we were to have true and decent leadership restored to the WH with a duly elected president...maybe people would feel hopeful enough to celebrate.

[rodeodance]

5. purchases of bottled water, portapotties. etc.

[yorkiemommie1]

7. yes, and i bet they repeat and repeat

to hammer this home: " everybody else is spending so why can't/shouldn't I?"

[sniffa]

4. not in our househoLd

everyone's getting crafts made of eLbow macoroni and sparkLes.

[hobbit709]

6. You can afford

the sparkles?

[politicaholic]

10. My family's rich, we use penne pasta...

the coloured kind.

[Skittles]

16. hey I would like that!

I would! :D

[CrackpotAmerica]

8. I have increased my scotch budget by 120% NT

[LibDemAlways]

9. And FAUX knows this how?

Next they'll be reporting that they received this information from Santa.

[Cha]

33. fauxsux doesn't need to "know"

it..they make up Shite as they go along. Comes straight from their "Catupulting The Propoganda" department.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. Taxcuts.... I already put mine in my taxtank though... lol. nt.

[elperromagico]

17. That's the way!

The middle class takes its tax cut and spends it at the pump due to rising gas prices.

The oil companies make more money due to rising gas prices and pay their execs more money.

The execs qualify for bigger tax cuts.

Holy shit. Trickle down works!!! Now, if we can just figure out how to get it to trickle in the opposite direction...

[HysteryDiagnosis]

20. It's so durn funny that I am laughing so hard.... that I feel something

trickling down.... but it's not good fortune.... :)

[kikiek]

12. Maybe the top 1 pct will carry the burden. We aren't buying anything here.

Well maybe a new puppy..

[Bullshot]

18. That's a train of thought I had as well.

Has our society become so polarized into "haves" and "have-nots," that the "haves'" extra incomes and tax breaks will result in spending that will carry the entire country?

I tend to lean toward the thought that Faux is merely trying to carry the water for BushCo. And will we really get that actual Christmas spending figures? Or, will they be fudged to show record spending regardless of what happens.

In my household, my wife and I will likely not get anything for each other. Gifts for the kids will likely be substantially lower than previous years. It's a helluva lot more expensive to drive to work and heat the home. You have to cut somewhere. You have to eat. You need clothes to keep you warm. After paying for heating, traveling, clothing, and food, there's not much left.

[kikiek]

25. I agree..and we don't have kids. No reason to go out and buy crap

we don't need. In addition it seems the wealthy are going to be the only ones who should have babies in the future. According to this disgusting editorial in our local paper today. I can't believe people actually think this way. From the Mpls Star and Trib editorial 9/29/05




Just say no (kids)

The Sept. 26 editorial "Child care / Cuts in state aid hurt the poor" neglected to list another choice regarding child care for low-income (or any other) families: If you can't afford a child, including the child care, don't have one in the first place.

XXXXXXXXX, Eagan.

[elfin]

14. I always go a bit crazy

during the holdays - overly generous - but not this year. Will keep my charitable donations to Planned Parenthood, local natural history museum, library and humane society at the same level or above if I can swing it.

[elperromagico]

15. We're just following the example of Our President,

who can't seem to spend within the Federal Treasury's means.

[1932]

19. Sounds like they're trying to shame people into keeping up w/ (fictional)

Joneses.

I suspect that Fox's claim isn't the case, or they wouldn't be trying this tactic.

[blondeatlast]

21. There is no way to predict that at this point. I have many, many years

retail experience.

Even last years "positive" spending was partially manufactured by the media. I can tell by the merchandise being carried in the midlevel stores (Macy's/Robinson's-May).

The offerings are VERY conservative right now.

Don't buy it--especially from FAUX.

[win_in_06]

22. All those mail-order magazines I've been getting are going to file 13

[samplegirl]

23. Did they mention.......

people maxing out their credit cards for gas?

[Spinzonner]

24. Toys for Tots should have a major campaign for the Katrina victims

[kineneb]

26. It's going to be a home-spun Christmas

Really ... I plan to spin up the roving I have, perhaps buy a bit more, and knit stuff. Everyone had better like knitted wool socks, scarves and bags, 'cause that is what they are getting. ...made from local sheep, as well.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

27. Maybe they have a deal with many of the wealthy beneficiaries of

their tax cuts. They agreed to spend, spend, spend this holiday season.

:wtf:

[texpatriot2004]

28. Perhaps another year of luxury spending. n/t

[grannylib]

29. Wishful thinking, or else an attempt to prop up corporate whores by

making us think that we SHOULD increase spending.
Everyone on my list this year is getting the same thing they did last year: a homemade ornament, some home-baked goodies, and for those who were REALLY bad (i.e. the few reThug members of my family) a donation in their names to either the ACLU or to the campaign of someone I know they hate.

[Digit]

30. Christmas spending WILL increase...but it will be on heating fuel, and not

on gifts, unfortunately.

[cassiepriam]

31. Not gonna happen with high gas and winter fuel prices...

unless the sheeple put it on their credit cards...

[I_am_Spartacus]

32. I have friends who pay estimated amounts for their natural gas bill

They spread the payments out evenly over the year, which I think is a mistake.

To me, this is an interest free loan you give to the utility in the summer so that you don't have to pay higher bills in the winter. Of course you could look at it the other way: If you start this up in December, they're giving you a loan in the winter, which you pay back in the summer. I guess it depends on when you start doing this, but I still supsect the utility makes out better than the customer, since people who do this are generally not in the best bargaining position to start with.

Anyway, last year their monthly payment was $200. They got their notice for the coming year. Their monthly payment is now $480.

They live in a big old house, but they're young. They just told me the other day that they had to stay home on a Saturday night because they need to save money. They're also cutting back to basic cable (I told them get rid of that and just get Netflix if they really need to see movies). They said they have less money now than they did two years ago when their income was lower.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

34. Christmas spending will be up...

For starters, it's going to cost twice as much to drive to the mall. I suspect that lots of people will be giving "practical" gifts this year. They're probably contemplating suicide over at Nieman-Marcus.

[zann725]

35. The only increase in Christmas spending will be Santa's...if HE buys gifts

for all the jobless, homeless, disabled, and generlaly economically depressed Americans.

I've noticed a LOT of empty parking spaces in area shopping malls lately. I've known the "shopping level" of these malls for years, and it's WAY down. As are the attendance at area movie theatres... even on opening films.

Rising gasoline, and healthcare costs, pension cut-backs, and rising unemployment, and lowering value of the dollar...etc...are all REAL accumulating factors.