The New CS Board

[jumanji0881]

Inflation=Increased Consumer Spending
Consumers holding back, especially on cars : http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/14/news/economy/retail_sales/index.htm?iid=HP_LN

Excerpt:
"To write this off as a weak report is a mistake," said Carl Riccadonna, senior U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank. He pointed out that most categories other than autos, furniture, health care products and nonstore retailers, primarily the online shopping, posted gains.

Part of what drove higher spending was an increase in gasoline prices, which lifted money spent at gas stations by 1.4%.

But there was also an increase in spending at general merchandise retailers, which includes department stores. Those sales rose 2% compared to December.

"All the post-holiday markdowns and gift cards received during the holidays worked their magic. They brought people into the stores," said Libby Bierman, analyst at Sageworks.
0:00 / 2:06 Cyber-shopping from your cab

Sales at food stores climbed 1.3%. Riccadonna said that like the increased spending at gas stations, part of rise at supermarket checkouts was due to rising prices. But unlike the gas station rise, food prices accounted for only part of that gain.