Delos Smith
Delos Smith
gasoline higher impact prices
This is not a very pretty picture. The higher gasoline prices had more of an impact that most had expected.
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.
certainly consumer effect gas mean negative numbers prices retail sales seen weekly
We haven't yet seen the negative effect of gas prices on consumer spending. It's certainly not here in these numbers. That doesn't mean it's not there. Certainly the weekly retail sales numbers have been sluggish.
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.
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.
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.
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.
besides companies cultural india interested political retailers ultimately understand western
Besides the political issues, retailers interested in India have to understand the cultural differences and sensitivities. Ultimately India's still a very complicated world for Western companies to understand.
corporate equity greed lack market people
Corporate scandals, equity market problems, a lack of transparency, a lot of greed -- it was not just the Dow falling, it was all of these things that make people very, very nervous.
coming grass kinds nice
I see robins and the grass coming up and all kinds of nice signs. But it has to be proven.
business fingers leaks
I've been in the business 40 years...almost 40 years. I can tell you the leaks in 40 years and I won't even use all the fingers on one hand.
ends key whether
The whole key is whether or not (a war) ends quickly.
cnn longer mood retail suspense
As long as suspense lingers, you will have a longer CNN effect. That's not what you want -- mood is very important for the retail world.
buy consumer consumers current everybody involved people pleasure
You want the consumer buoyant. Most consumers are not current-events oriented. When you get everybody involved in current events, when they usually are not, then people are not going to go out and buy things just for pleasure of it.