Delos Smith
Delos Smith
behind cautious people relaxed report saying suggest troubles
You don't want people to be cautious if you want them to buy. You want them relaxed and saying their troubles are behind them. This (employment) report doesn't suggest that.
gasoline higher impact prices
This is not a very pretty picture. The higher gasoline prices had more of an impact that most had expected.
consumers kept retailers
I think consumers are more cautious, and I think the retailers have kept inventories well under control.
job people promises seeing though
People are seeing we're not getting job growth, even though there have been a lot of promises of it. That's the key; for people to be satisfied, you have to have job growth.
absolute consider economic gas good high misleading natural prices signs
I always consider excluding gas prices misleading -- it's an absolute requirement for most people. Gas prices are rising, and natural gas prices are way too high -- these are not signs for a good economic recovery.
creating hard nervous people relaxed
This is a very nervous country. How much it's going to dampen the economy, I don't know, but it's hard to see people relaxed and creating a boom.
build higher housing people starts
Housing starts would be much much higher if they could find the people to build the homes.
drained market share
The consumer, I think, is healing. There's still a lot of market share out there. I don't think we've drained anything away.
consumers economy eye front gas generally global happening jobs keeping prices remain terms
The economy is generally chugging along. From the consumers' perspective, jobs remain an important issue. Consumers will also be keeping an eye on gas prices and what happening on the global front in terms of terrorism.
future waiting watch water
The economy's long-range future is excellent, and we have a lot of things going for us. But we're waiting for the water to boil, and you can get very flustered if you watch water boil.
average cents current effect felt gallon higher level price prices year
The current average price of $1.90 a gallon is still about 40 cents higher than the level a year ago. So the effect of higher prices will be felt for some time.
below economy full nervous plays surface
The uncertainty is there. It's dissipated, but it's just below the surface and can be rekindled. It plays a part in an economy full of very nervous people.
consumer drop five percent perhaps retailers season stimulus tax
The five percent drop is shocking. It indicates that perhaps the consumer tax rebate stimulus that benefited retailers during the back-to-school season has petered out.