Broke Americans, your corporate overlords don't understand why you aren't shopping more.....

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) Consumer spending in the U.S. climbed less than forecast in April as food and fuel prices rose, a sign that faster income gains are necessary to boost the biggest part of the economy.

Purchases rose 0.4 percent after a revised 0.5 percent gain the prior month that was smaller than previously estimated, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The increase compared with the 0.5 percent median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Incomes climbed 0.4 percent, matching the median forecast.

Retailers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are feeling the pinch as higher grocery and energy bills force households to cut back on less essential items. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke is among central bankers who predict the acceleration in commodity prices will be temporary, providing some relief for Americans whose spending accounts for 70 percent of the economy.

“When you account for higher food and energy prices there’s barely anything left for consumers” to buy, said Mark Vitner, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina, who accurately forecast the April gain in spending. “We need to see job growth pick up and we need to see commodity prices continue to cool.” ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-27/consumer-spending-in-u-s-climbs-less-than-estimated-on-food-fuel-prices.html

[MindPilot]

1. “We need to see job growth pick up and we need to see commodity prices continue to cool.”

wonder how much the "senior economist" got paid to think of that?

[hobbit709]

2. Even that reactionary old bastard Henry Ford understood that.

If you don't pay them enough to buy your stuff, they won't buy it.

[xchrom]

3. recommend -- marmar -- would you mind if i x post this in smw? nt

[marmar]

4. Of course not.

nt

[xchrom]

5. thank you -- i always like to ask.

:hi:

[coalition_unwilling]

27. What is 'smw'? Don't think I've seen that acronym before - n/t

[WinkyDink]

6. Faster income gains will not reduce prices. Moreover, that spiral will severely hurt those of us on

fixed incomes.

[loudsue]

7. Duh. Ya think?

WTF did these idiots think when they were paying top dollar to elect the globalization crowd who would allow all our jobs to be shipped overseas? The USA isn't competing with the industrialized west, we're competing with the poorest Chinese worker.

But then we keep getting these products that are worth shit, and who's going to buy that crap? I have money for clothes, but I'm sure as hell not going to spend it on crap that is so flimsy that it will fall apart after one washing. Or shoes that look like the old Chinese cardboard soles, no arch supports, no padding, just cardboard. Screw that shit! I'm NOT paying my hard-earned money on that crap!

Phones (lanlines) don't have decent buttons, and you can't hear out of them. Kleenex fall apart before you even blow your nose! The only thing that is really sturdy and strong are the fucking hard plastic packaging that you can't get into without a goddamned chain saw, and then you tear up whatever is INSIDE the packaging trying to get to it. The only thing that is sturdy is the ONE THING you didn't purchase to use...the packaging! Corporations are so fucking stupid these days. It seems like this whole country has elevated stupid to a whole new level. The way they hand you your change at the register. Who in the hell ever figured that you should put coins ON TOP of the bills? They ROLL OFF!!!! And the receipt should go in the BAG, not on top of the bills!!! Then you have to stand at the register, taking up everyone else's time, while you separate out your change, bills, and receipt, to put them in a manageable place. I hate going shopping anymore.

[RC]

8. When you calm down a bit, get one of these - -

http://www.geardiary.com/2007/12/12/review-zibra-open-it-will-this-packaging-removal-tool-render-scissors-obsolete/

[socialist_n_TN]

10. She would, but she can't get it out of the packaging........

:)

[Fumesucker]

11. Not to mention that it's made in China..

:evilgrin:

[BuelahWitch]

13. When she tries it's a $5000 trip to the ER for stitches

in the gash in her thumb...

[RC]

14. The packaging is the piece of cardboard it's attached to by a twist tie.

[tblue37]

23. That was an episode on _Curb Your Enthusiasm_. nt

[socialist_n_TN]

26. REALLY?? I honestly didn't know that........

I've never seen anything, but clips of that show.

[Cairycat]

9. I hear you about the coins on top of the bills

I hate that! I dump off the coins into my billfold or my other hand or pocket, and make the cashier wait til I'm done to take the bills.

[RebelOne]

15. That is why I do not pay with cash any more.

I use my debit card as it makes shopping a whole lot easier. Just plug in your PIN and no hassling with cash. I rarely carry cash anyway.

[Brigid]

17. This rant definitely rates a Brigid Duzy!

:rofl:

[idiotgardener]

19. I think the purpose of the overkill rigid plastic packaging

is to make things hard to return. It's sometimes hard to return something when you've had to open it with an axe.

Also, that crappy packaging is usually not recyclable. Doubleplus hate!

[tblue37]

24. Mainly it's because they are so terrified that someone will steal their crappy product. nt

[tblue37]

22. I get pissed off at that all the time, too. Remember when they used to hand you coins first, so

you could drop them in the coin purse part of your wallet, and then the bills? And I hate that they hand me the receipt instead of putting it in the bag.

The stupid copins on top of the bills thing is caused by the fact that the cashiers don't make change any more--the register does it for them, so instead of counting our the change for the customer, coins first, they collect it bills first from the register and coins last.

I always complain about it, hoping that maybe someone will take a hint and change to a saner method. It really does hold up the line when they do it the way they do it now.

[Dulcinea]

25. I too hate shopping these days.

The receipt thing drives me nuts! Some overpaid consultant probably said to hand the customer the receipt. Whoever came up with that should be tarred & feathered! I just tell the cashier to "PLEASE put the receipt in the bag."

The packaging is indestructible so people don't steal the merchandise. Ever try extracting Barbie from her packaging? It takes an hour plus a Leatherman.

I shop online as much as possible. No stupid people, no waiting in line, no wasting time. For clothing, I like sales at REI or Sierra Trading Post. Most of what's in the stores is crap.

[Zorra]

12. They can kiss my royal proletarian ass.

I'm not broke, and I'm wouldn't give them the time of day, and certainly not my money whenever I can help it.

[TBF]

18. +1000 nt

[LiberalEsto]

16. Our local mall is almost empty

but you should see the lines at Ross, Big Lots and the various dollar stores.

[Bake]

20. Maybe if the bastards would stop shipping our jobs overseas ...

And turn loose some of that mountain of cash they're sitting on, real Americans might be able to afford to buy their shit!

Honestly, who do they fucking think is going to be left to buy their crap when all of it made overseas???? There's nothing more short-sighted than next quarter's earnings report.

Bake

[tblue37]

21. The oligarchs always end up killing the goose that laid the

golden egg. They never learn from the past.