by MonteQuest » Thu 17 May 2007, 19:45:43
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('syrac818', ' ')The results of $70/oil seem to be little more than a cranky American public and grumblings about evil oil executives.....
...and escalating debt as smashed budgets go on credit cards.
You are out of touch with the reality around you.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he effect of higher gas prices, detected by the United States Department of Commerce, shows retail sales fell two-tenths of 1 percent in April. Higher gas prices are a major contributor.
Economists say consumers spent $30 more on gas last month. With fewer dollars in our pockets, Americans spent less - an estimated $20 billion less - at our favorite department stores.
"People are already choosing between food and rent and medicine," says Poag. "And so it's going to cut back on people going on vacations, people visiting, the cost of food is going to go up. It's a ripple effect for the whole economy."
Wal-Mart reported its sales fell 3.5 percent.
Overall, department store sales fell to their lowest levels since November 2002.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'S')oaring gas prices are slamming cities, school districts and sheriff's departments across the USA, forcing local governments to scrimp, save and borrow to pay the price at the pump.