Change Jar Savings » Economy / Recovery

Cloudy Days on Seasame Street

Jim — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:05:34 +0000

Bert laid off? Say it ain’t so…

Sesame Workshop was founded in 1968 and produces Seasame Street. The company says it’s eliminating 67 of 355 staff positions. It’s cutting 20 percent of its work force because of the recession.

Ernie you still have a roommate.

Just my 2 cents. Jim @ ChangeJarSavings.com

Recovery Sign 2 from Wal-Mart?

Jim — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:48:48 +0000

I have said in the past that I beleive the rise in gas caused the recession not the housing bubble or credit market problems. Wal-Mart is supporting this and showing us another sign that the recovery is starting to take hold.

In Wal-Mart’s commentary about its February sales, they say the extra money people have to spend from cheaper gas has allowed them to spend more money in some other areas, such as home goods and other merchandise.

Just my 2 cents. Jim @ ChangeJarSavings.com

Signs of Recovery – Recession not over yet

Jim — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:00:07 +0000

One of the few economic indicators to show positive results in the fourth quarter is a rising sense of customer satisfaction with retailers, according to the latest report of the American Consumer Satisfaction Index.

In past recessions rising consumer satisfaction has been one of the leading indicators of a sales recovery. But in order for strong customer satisfaction to translate into demand, it is also necessary that consumers have the means–cash and credit–to spend.

Still the news is positive in that for spending to rebound, consumers’ expectations about the gratification from future discretionary spending must be high or rising. And the study, in fact, shows that condition has been met.

Just my 2 cents. Jim @ ChangeJarSavings.com