The 2010 Holiday Season is gonna suck for retailers

[^_^ 5,021]

* 71% of middle-class families (defined as those with incomes of $50,000 or more) plan to give less this holiday season, according to a new survey by Texas-based First Command Financial Services. Thirty-eight percent say they will spend less than $500 total on gifts this year, up from 18% who said so last year.

* More than half say they will reduce overall spending on gifts by around $300, and about 40% plan to cut back by more than $400.

* If you don’t get as many gifts this year, don’t take it personally: 35% say they plan to give to fewer people.

* Lastly, 51% of those surveyed aren’t traveling at all for the holidays this year, and another 28% are staying within 100 miles of home.

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/10/21/home-for-the-holidays-a-preview-of-the-2010-season/?mod=e2fb

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Just my observation, but I'm seeing a lot of people shopping at the department stores. Maybe they're buying less, or more things of necessity but they are spending money.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Hope you do more that just observing and open up your wallet once in a while and stimulate someone.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

seem busier than ever here...... Of course I'm in a growing area too that would be uneffected by this...

[^_^ 5,021]

Ditto what Paul said - I see no evidence of this at all.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hope you do more that just observing and open up your wallet once in a while and stimulate someone.

Are you trying to sell me something? What kind of business do you actually have? Website designing?

[^_^ 5,021]

Are you trying to sell me something? What kind of business do you actually have? Website designing?

He wants you to stimulate him. I think he might be gay.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Imagine if we actually exported things people would buy during the holidays - besides the Apple products.

He wants you to stimulate him. I think he might be gay.

I hope he doesn't look like that crusty old man in an overcoat. I have standards.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's going to be hard for me to spend less than normal, but I sure will try

[^_^ 5,021]

Imagine if we actually exported things people would buy during the holidays - besides the Apple products.

Imagine if we exported things people buy all the time. Things like corn, industrial chemicals, aircraft, cars, computers and consumer pharmaceuticals.

Oh wait, we do.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Imagine if we exported things people buy all the time. Things like corn, industrial chemicals, aircraft, cars, computers and consumer pharmaceuticals.

Oh wait, we do.

Which computers are actually manufactured here? Or cars that are actually exported? Most manufacturing is being done overseas or south of the border, by brown people.

[mawilson 2,133]

Which computers are actually manufactured here? Or cars that are actually exported? Most manufacturing is being done overseas or south of the border, by brown people.

Is that why our computers crash all the time?

[^_^ 5,021]

Or cars that are actually exported? Most manufacturing is being done overseas or south of the border, by brown people.

U.S. Exports of Computers by Country

Canada bought the most American computer exports in 2007, about $2.6 billion more than what Canadian computer manufacturers shipped to the U.S.

1. Canada … US$3.3 billion (47.9% of U.S. computer exports)

2. Mexico … $1.4 billion (20.7%)

3. Japan … $617.6 million (9.0%)

4. United Kingdom … $608.2 million (8.9%)

5. Germany… $473.1 million (6.9%)

6. China … $457 million (6.7%).

http://www.suite101.com/content/us-imported-and-exported-computer-sales-a60857

[Amby 490]

hmmmmmm...I will probably spend the same.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

U.S. Exports of Computers by Country

Canada bought the most American computer exports in 2007, about $2.6 billion more than what Canadian computer manufacturers shipped to the U.S.

1. Canada … US$3.3 billion (47.9% of U.S. computer exports)

2. Mexico … $1.4 billion (20.7%)

3. Japan … $617.6 million (9.0%)

4. United Kingdom … $608.2 million (8.9%)

5. Germany… $473.1 million (6.9%)

6. China … $457 million (6.7%).

http://www.suite101....er-sales-a60857

Are those actually being manufactured on American soil or just counted as exports because they are American companies? Because that's an issue that has been brought up many times by Americans regarding jobs here.