August retail sales up 0.4 pct., best in 5 months

[WI_DEM]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Retail sales rose in August by the largest amount in five months, adding to evidence that a late spring economic swoon was temporary and not the start of another recession.

Retail sales increased 0.4 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. It was the second straight monthly increase and the biggest gain since March.

Excluding a decline in autos, retail sales increased 0.6 percent. That followed two relatively flat months and a sharp drop in May.

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20100914/1af9b463-4282-418a-bba9-93a8cdf85f40

[Dappleganger]

1. Back to school.

[WI_DEM]

2. maybe, but the economic reports have been a lot brighter lately

on several fronts.

[Dappleganger]

4. A one month uptick isn't significant.

A 5-month uptick would be more significant. The fact is that wages are down, our local unemployment rate continues to rise (NE FL), our local RE market is more than 50% underwater and prices are still falling. A year ago people around here said that we'd reached the bottom but we are still seeing everything fall (this is local). Jobs which are popping up in our area are service related for less hours and no bennies, as well as contract work for less than going rate for permanent and once again, no benefits.

Hey, I was on the side of "things are looking up" a year ago. The fact of the matter is that while we may not be bleeding as profusely as before, the country is still not recovering in a meaningful way. For people who are suffering it isn't happening fast enough.

[Individualist]

7. maybe?

Back to school shopping is merchants' second biggest selling period of the year.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0423410720100706

[lukasahero]

5. And tax holidays eom

[bluestateguy]

3. Looks like we did OK with Back to School season

You can only use old school supplies for so long, I guess.

[bushisanidiot]

6. Combine that with the fact that the President's first budget has reduced Bush's deficit

and things are almost looking rosey for the future.

The car is well on it's way to getting out of AWOL Bush's ditch! We're just gainin' steam!

[Scurrilous]

8. K & R

:thumbsup: