Kurt Barnard
Kurt Barnard
basically climate confirm consumer employment inevitable numbers predicted remains simply spending stagnant time
Today's (consumer confidence) numbers do very little other than to simply confirm what we had predicted some time ago, that a consumer spending slowdown is basically inevitable so long as the employment climate remains as stagnant as it is,
believe buying consumer consumers current fourth likely mean outlook ready remain spending third worse
The outlook is for a muted third quarter, and also fourth quarter. It's not getting any worse in our opinion. We believe that consumer spending has essentially bottomed out. That does not mean consumers are ready to go on a spending spree or a buying binge. Things are likely to remain at their current level.
confidence consumer economic employment gathered seen speed
What we have seen is a continuation of an economic downturn accompanied by a downturn in consumer confidence and employment that started and gathered speed long before Sept. 11,
cautious consumer cutting seeing
We are really seeing a cautious consumer who is cutting back on discretionary spending.
affordable apparel broke chains consumers demand dressed estimates gap mean performing research specialty taylor
The demand for the 'luxury look' is back. Americans want to be fashionable and elegantly dressed but that doesn't mean they want to go broke in the process, ... Consumers know that they can get that well-dressed look for an affordable price, and that's why the specialty apparel chains like Gap ( GPS : Research , Estimates ) and Ann Taylor ( ANN : Research , Estimates ) are performing well.
broke willing
They're willing to buy, but not willing to go broke in the process,
beating best horse jockey market three wonderful
Amazon's prospects, in my view, are at best limited. They may do some wonderful things, but the market isn't there. It's like a jockey beating a horse with three legs.
cautious continue evident extremely retail sales
Americans have become very cautious spenders, and that was extremely evident in May. Retail sales will continue to advance, but very slowly, very cautiously.
drive gas given less money paying people reason spend
Americans, for one reason or another, have not given up on their infatuation with SUVs that guzzle gas by the gallons. But there's only so much money to go around. If people are paying more to drive their cars, they will have less money to spend on other things.
air less shoulder tendency
Americans are less secure. There's an uneasiness in the air and a tendency to look over one's shoulder more often.
anytime asking bombarded buying decent good head hear income jobs laid listen means number people question radio voice
Americans are being bombarded with announcements of layoffs. Anytime you listen to the radio it's always 3,000 laid off here, 500 there, ... That means a lot of people who have decent jobs and good income hear that little voice in the back of their head asking the question 'could my number be up next?' They're buying what they need, but they don't buy frivolously.
changes easier ought personnel problem steps takes totally
They ought to go private. It makes it easier to make changes and what is more they will not have the personnel problem that always comes when someone totally new steps in and takes over the company.
economy-and-economics learned lesson operate
They have all learned one lesson -- make yourself more efficient. Operate more economically, and do more with less.
consumers customers evoking exciting finding granted instead looking mistake problem products retailers selling stores taking terrible unusual
A terrible problem for retailers is that most stores are evoking yawns from consumers, instead of excitement. Retailers just can't keep making the mistake of taking customers for granted by selling ho-hum kind of merchandise. Consumers are looking for unusual and exciting products and they're not finding them.