Move along, move along folks… please do not pay attention to the fire raging downtown, the suburbs are so nice this time of year… move along folks, look shiny Ukraine thing over there…
When retail sales are calculated, they are calculated in dollars. Any recorded increase in retail sales that does not exceed the price increases in those items is factually reflecting a drop in units sold.
Ex. – if you sell 300 items at $1.00 each, you have $300 in sales. If you sell 250 items at $1.25 each, you have $312.50 in sales. Technically, you have a 4.1% increase in sales. However, you have sold 17% less items (50 units).
When you are selling less stuff, your business (economy) is contracting, not expanding. We have been in this contracting cycle (an actual production recession) since May/June of last year; however, the contraction has not been recognized because massive inflation is hiding it. That, my friends, is the painful truth and it spells big trouble ahead.
(AP) […] Retail sales increased 0.3% after registering a revised 4.9% jump from December to January, fueled by wage gains, solid hiring and more money in banking accounts, according to the Commerce Department. January’s increase was the biggest jump in spending since last March, when American households received a final federal stimulus check of $1,400.
Business at furniture and home furnishing stores fell 1% in February, while sales at consumer electronics and appliance stores slipped 0.6%. General merchandise stores saw business down 0.2%, while online sales fell 3.7%. Restaurant sales rose 2.5% as shoppers shift more of their spending to services as the threat of COVID-19 fades. (read more)
Take the figures above and compare them to the sector inflation in February (Table-2, BLS Report) – Just sticking to what is above:
- Furniture prices rose 0.8% in Feb, total furniture sales dropped 1.0%
- Electronics and appliances rose around 1.8% in Feb, sales dropped 0.6%
- Online sales items rose in price around 0.5%, sales dropped 3.7%
.
What this reflects is an actual contraction much greater than the dollar drop in sales. In most cases the unit sales dropped at a rate six times the price difference. If you reverse engineer the math, the average is approximately a 15% reduction in durable good units purchased.
In a very macro perspective, that means the U.S. economy overall has approximately 15% too much labor in the sectors associated with the categories of goods that people have stopped purchasing. This means people working in the durable goods sector, production, assembly, transportation, delivery and retail sales staff, are about to get laid off work, RIF’d and downsized.
Math is math, and inflation clouds the realities of the economy.
Ordinary people are prioritizing spending and watching their wages get chewed up by higher prices for food, energy, fuel and housing. If you live in a predominantly working class or blue-collar area, when you start seeing contraction locally, you can be sure it will show up nationally.
Prepare for a long-duration recession, combined with increasingly costly energy costs.
However, do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Instead, empower yourself. Take action today to evaluate your expenses and then ask how can I lower those expense costs by modifying my habits? Think strategically about convenience -vs- costs -vs- how much your own time is worth.
You may not need to modify anything. Or you may need to reevaluate priorities in order to help your kids or grandkids.
Be wise.
Be the hero for your family.
Be strong.
Be proactive.
Above all, be thankful to a loving God. No weapon formed against you shall prosper.
Stay humble in your expectations, stay connected to your stabilized core self, and embrace fellowship.
This too shall pass.
#FJB
Good news! Chinese s–t burns! I bet they skimped on the emergency exit doors to save money.
Have you ever known a walmart store to go out of their way to actually HELP anyone? They talk big, but then nada. It’s all for show.
I say put them out of business and start buying local @ small shops, even if you pay more and get less and even if you can’t get what you want. Learn to make adjustments just to hurt some of these larger companies. But too many people are flaccid about this so, walmart goes on getting richer by the second. Exactly how did American’s let this happen? No one company should have that much money and power, I don’t give a rat’s you know what about grampa walton’s idea. Sure it was good when it was originated but now it’s just become the beast.
I try to buy everything from Publix, Bealls, Hobby Lobby and Ace hardware. However I do splurge once in awhile and shop online at Nordstroms, they have really good sales.
The employees at my Walmart are nice enough.
The Walmart Distribution Center near St. Louis got tore in half by a tornado a few months ago. Gonna be a BIG shortage of Chinese s—t in Illinois.
I guess its more profitable to collect the insurance…
They did not want to pay property tax on excess inventory.
These days it can be.
thereby reallocating the expense onto the US consumer by way of higher insurance premiums…another bailout by middle-class America
Brothers gotta get paid.
Crap! There goes the batteries I ordered from China 🙁
Damn Russians………….
“Putin did this!”
WOW — a lot of “stuff” can be “disappeared” in this inferno!
Oh no,they’re lying to us.
I’m shocked … – – – …
Not spending anything but for the bare necessities. Can no longer work because the companies I contract with now require “vaccination”. Joy comes from watching Democrats suffer along side the rest of us. If Lady Lindsey and Kevin McCarthy get their wishes ………………. we’ll soon be seeing body bags coming back to the United States.
That’s not cool at all. I had to assist unloading dead American soldiers during the Vietnam War! 1967 to 1968. I still have bad thoughts and dreams. Lord I despise these animals!
Not to offend; my take from Onekama Man is that he is stating reality.
I learned a long time ago (and I remember Vietnam War Era personally), that many times reality is not at all cool.
Vietnam – important people in my life – gone, harmed then taken too soon, and the sadness of it all. Has been coming to mind, and inescapably hitting my emotion.
Please know, Honor Defend Buckeye, that you are appreciated for your sacrificial service during the Vietnam War. I hope you will locate an appropriate observance of Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29. You are not alone.
“Coming back”? The US Biden Doctrine (Crack-head Hunter) has driven Russia into the arms of the Chinese & making the Dimocrats ANXIOUS to start the victory celebration so they don’t take a spanking during the election. The Dims, Victoria Nuland and Chulapa have worked since the 90’s to beat Putin, so allow me to preview what the cost will be. #1. The USA will lose the PETRO-DOLLAR very soon. That was worth trillions over the years and will be devastating. #2. The CCP will control majority shares of food production, fertilizer, manufacturing, shipping, HYPER-SONIC MISSILES, pharmaceuticals, silicon fabrication of chips, oil, coal & electricity, plus RARE-EARTHS. #3. All of Islam will rush to the protection of the BRICS coalition, for that will be where the money & power lies. #4. The USA will be nothing but an irradiated, civil war ravaged husk of its former self when Armageddon begins. Biden & his son Biden, under Obama’s command, did this!
Thank you for the encouragement at the end. When all this gets me down, I think “be prudent but chin up! keep living life.”
Those that know the Lord know we win.
That’s what I tell my adult kids. Put your head down and plow through!!
I wonder what percentage being spent on non essentials is result of people getting tax refund?
I know people who spend that refund before it even hits their bank account.
Thanks Sundance for once again explaining in manner even I understand
They gone be mighty surprised when they see that the $1400 the gubmint “gave” them in March of last year….comes out of what’s due you this year! I do my deductions so the most is taken out and I have a nice refund to get some of the higher cost things done. Had I not been doing that, I would have been paying ! I hadn’t even thought about looking into that. I obviously forgot who I was dealing with… grrrr
Huh? The stimulus isn’t taxable so I miss your point. ??
The stimulus isn’t taxable, but those who were counting on the child tax credit will be disappointed, they already got it.
Ah yes. Many will be crapping when they find out the child care tax payment was a PREpayment.
I believe that stimulus was different than the child tax credit. I’ve already received my tax return and there was no $1400 deducted.
Retired Magistrate here: This is the day that the LORD made; rejoice and be glad in it.
Today here in Delaware County, Ohio the sun is shining, it is almost 70, crocus are blooming, we have food to eat, had enough money to pay the electric bill, got a basement drainage issue fixed and after 32 years of marriage my husband and I still like and love each other.
Whatever issues we have tomorrow, we will deal with them tomorrow with GOD’s help. Live your best life now. The media and our government want to steal your joy; don’t let them do it. Be thankful for what you have today.
I paid my taxes today, $43 fed, $0 state, and still got lots in the bank. A little less after $450 for red oak for my king-sized bed frame.
Thank you for a wonderful outlook 👀
Retired Magistrate,
I’m familiar with Delaware and Franklin Counties. In looking for a possible place to move from my corrupt blue state, I am tempted by Delaware County but am worried about the rapid growth into Delaware from crazy, lefty Franklin County.
Can you recommend an attractive, adjacent county in central Ohio?
Retired Magistrate here: Union County, Ohio; very, very conservative. Yes, Delaware County is getting more progressive due to people moving here from Franklin County, Ohio. However, where we are is still fairly conservative. We are in Concord Township. Liberty township and Concord Township were fairly recession proof during the last recession. We’ll see how we do this time. So far, things are fairly normal.
Thank you. My wife and I stayed a few months back in a hotel in Mt. Vernon, Ohio and enjoyed the area.
Any opinions on that area?
I also agree with Union County. Plain City is having an explosion growth right now, and Der Dutchman has the best donuts, lol.
We lived in Ashley, Delaware Co OH in the late 1990s. Very pretty area, near big city of Columbus, which seems to be doing well, compared to Cleveland, Cincinnati and other cities in the state, as well as the horror show in MI, i.e. Detroit.
Just saying, not all of us are crazy leftists in Franklin County. The majority of libs are in the tOSU proximity. The suburbs of Columbus are vastly different than Columbus and Upper Arlington.
Absolutely. Seeing that our cup is full, half full, or any % full is always how we should recognize the Lord’s Grace.
Amen
Thankfully, Sundance has been preparing us all for this a long time.
My late grandma would always say, “This too shall pass.” It brings me great comfort and peace.
An oft spoken truth from my late mother in law who learned it from her mother. Nothing goes on forever, though the foul creatures doing their utmost to ruin lives believe themselves to be impervious and eternal.
They’ll be mightily shocked the day they face their reckoning.
“Everything always turns out all right, in the end.
Therefore, if things aren’t going well, it means your NOT “at the end” yet!”
Shades of “Shakespeare in Love” there, Dutchman.
I always speak to people while shopping. This past week I have shared ideas with fellow shoppers. Just today there was an older couple who picked up a pack of porkchops on sale. It was a larger pack. I mentioned to them that my husband and I deep fry chops from time to time. Cut them in 2 1/2 inch slices. Pound them. Than dip in egg and milk and flour. Throw them in the deep fry. They were thankful and pleased with the idea.
I use Cook’s Country recipe for pan-fried center cut pork chops. They come out tender EVERY time. Nothing worse than dry chops. OT, I know. Sorry.
The lack of simple, delightful engagement with strangers in neutral surroundings (grocery store, gas station, post office, etc.) is a symptom of the disease that is infecting our society. In most cases the distrust is palpable, almost as if everyone is afraid of everyone and everything else. I make it a point to vocally engage as many people as possible, just to be friendly, just to share a moment of real communication, a flash of empathy is so fulfilling. Most will get over the initial hesitation and many of these conversations, be they ever so short, will end with smiles and a sense of comradery. After all, we are all in this together, with an easily identifiable enemy and effective weapons with which to defend ourselves.
We’ve done this several times recently. You’re right — it works to engage with your fellow humans!
I do this too, while shopping and have had many great discussions.
Also, while STANDING IN LINE. I say, “how you doin? Since we’re gonna be standing here, might as well talk?
And yes, with SOME I get some initial hesitance, I figure their wondering if I am hustling them in some way, but they soon warm up.
Many people have been deeply wounded within their own families over Covid issues, and are not sure they trust human beings any more.
99% of the time when I engage with strangers while shopping, it is a positive experience. Such an excellent point!
I intentionally avoid self checkout to talk with cashiers.
Sundance. Your thoughts and suggestions have always been a way for me to inspect my own backyard.
Your advice to get involved locally prompted me to apply to run for MPP in my riding under a true conservative Christian political party that was just started.
I had an interview with recruiters several weeks ago to gauge if they deemed me a good choice to run in my riding. Two days ago I received word that I had been selected. I will do my best to initiate change and we can only do so much as God allows, but we must do something!!!
Thanks to CTH for always providing timely motivation to get out and be an agent of change. When good men do nothing, bad things happen.
DD
Good luck Dan, I know you will do good, honest & moral things.
Fabulous, Dan!!!! I remember when you said you were contemplating running then decided to do it. What an admirable man you are for stepping up. I think we call people like you “patriots”, even in Canada.
Well done. I wish you all the best in your endeavour.
God go with you. 🙏B
Congratulations Dan! The people in your constituency will be lucky to have you.
I am glad to hear that there is a new truly conservative political party. I was shocked at the pitiful showing of the supposedly “Conservative” party who are so much like our RINOs.
Congratulations on being selected and may God bless your efforts.
“People are like books: Some deceive you with their cover and others surprise you with their content.” I thought of this when I consider how many times those “Conservative” campaigning candidates once elected show they are anything but.
Awesome!
I cannot say this economic activity, or lack thereof is correlated with the obstacles I’m finding to gainful employment related to my focus of engineering degree.
Certainly does not help as most of my prior experience is military and/or not directly related to the positions that I have applied for.
Then of course, I lack the resources to move to greener pastures elsewhere on short notice.
Companies that manufacture anything to do with defense/military are hiring. Countries around the world are upping defense purchases by about 20% and they import heavily from the US.
Many of these companies favor veterans.
Applied for engineering positions recently at a shipyard in Maine that builds destroyers for the U.S. Navy. I’ll see what comes of that.
A lot of your military experience is directly applicable in civilian jobs with your management and people skills. Depending on your MOS, National Guard and other Federal jobs.
#FJB
Hah! Just wait until the petrodollar collapses; you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Get your cash out of the banks – at least you’ll be able to survive longer. The banks will seize your accounts because in reality the law states that you don’t own the money in your account (you only think you do.) Don’t believe it? Get a high-power magnifier and look at the signature “line” on your checks.
Things are always darkest just before they go pitch black.
The Left is wanting a Communist Armageddon.
Has anyone noticed the surge in Estate Sales? Or the surge in Storage Unit sales?
The surge in Estate sales is due to the boomers downsizing, going into nursing homes, retirement communities, and dying. Probably the same for storage unit sales.
There is a possibility that the “surge in estate sales” is related to the increased death rate, due to the jab, and/or, lack of treatment for Covid diagnosis.
Also, our children don’t seem to want our family heirlooms the way we did way back when. Look at the wedding registries. No one wants the fine china or sterling silver. Everyday ware seems to be styrofoam takeout boxes and chop sticks. No one minds their table manners, either!
I want the fine china :-).
Bred Dobermans for years. Just lost my big 10 y/o male. Probably not going to breed any more. Still have our last female but she’s retired from the puppy production.
Just had to put our 13 year old golden doodle down. My wife and I miss him a lot. Been rough 2 weeks. Worse than I thought it would be. This too shall pass. Pray and pray more
We have labradoodles that we love dearly-I am so sorry for your loss. They are the best.
“Worse than I thought it would be. ”
It always is.😔 However time does eventually dull the pain ,but thankfully not the memories.
“Prepare for a long-duration recession, combined with increasingly costly energy costs.”
What do you mean? The TickTokers said it’s all Putin’s fault. That should be enough!
My husband, on his way back home from washing the car, stopped by a well known gas station to get a Payday candy bar to split with me to have with our afternoon coffee. We have one maybe twice a year, a treat.
$4.00!!! He was gobsmacked. It stayed where it was.
I saw $4.19 and $4.29 for regular in my little TN country town.
Dear mercy!
$4.09 for regular today in Lester Flatt’s home town…..Sparta, Middle Tennessee.
I didn’t know that Lester Flatt was from Sparta;-) I visited the Rock House a few years ago and had a nice tour; then tasty lunch at a tea room/antiques shop in town.
I live close enough to drive to work in Sparta but was able to find a job much closer in the last 18 months!
My great uncle!
OMG. And I bet it was a fraction of the size it was back when it was 50 cents ( or 25?) in the 60’s.
That’s crazy. Who’d buy a candy bar for 4 bucks?
Good Luck selling those things.
Those who don’t work for a living. Best guess.
..if you see my point.
Make your own.
Payday candy bars
12 ounces peanut butter baking chips
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
3 tablespoons butter
2 cup mini marshmallows
24 ounces dry roasted peanuts
Butter the bottom & sides of a 9×13 pan and place half of the peanuts in the bottom.
Melt the chips and butter over medium-low heat. Add in condensed milk and marshmallows, stirring until melted and combined.
Slowly pour mixture evenly over peanuts. Top with remaining peanuts and gently press down. Refrigerate to cool and set.
Cut into desired serving size.
Refrigerate leftovers.
Oooooooo!! Patty, you dear sweet thing!! Girrrrrrl! You’re the best😘
Thanks, Betsy. Being on the poor side I have learned how to do/make lots of things I can’t afford. And I do love cooking.
Keep posting them. Your recipes enable the rest of us to keep money from the greedy and woke entities!
Indeed!
I do as well. This sounds like a winner…easy peasy…and YUM!! I’ve got grands who will no doubt agree😊
Patty , you gotta write a book with tips and recipes! It will be needed!
Thanks Patty!
I love when recipes are posted.
Thanks😄
my favorite candy bar. Don’t eat sweets but once a year but when I do….
4 dollars for a candy bar? Holy crap
He almost said that, then remembered he was in a public place. He’s a Brit…manners, you know😉
Anyone that walks with the Lord usually learns to be content with the blessings they receive . I know I am. Ones outlook is different and one learns what is and is not important. That’s not to say one doesn’t need ‘stuff’, but I had no desire for lots of extra stuff and I look back on having bought a lot of stuff I didn’t need.
Philippians 4:11-13
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Amen and so very true, MaineCoon.
My beloved Philiippians…A recipe for God given peace.
JoBama is just following orders.
The glasses are a good look for Greta.
I can’t stop giggling at that one, thank you!
The glare blocks her glare.
One thing to be wary of. Since they include private and government spending in their economic calculations, if Chuckles, Joe and Nancy just keep blowing government money out their rears, they can accelerate the collapse while still making it look like the economy is increasing, in the same way that selling less for more looks like an increase.
Especially since the more will keep skyrocketing as they keep blasting forth more money.
In the same fashion, the economy of the Weimar Republic must have grown incredibly massive as people wheeled wheel barrels full of money around to buy a loaf of bread.
The hyperinflation crisis, 1923 – The Weimar Republic 1918-1929 – Edexcel – GCSE History Revision – Edexcel – BBC Bitesize
Children playing with stacks of hyperinflated currency during the Weimar Republic, 1922 – Rare Historical Photos
Poor interpretation of data. Real Retail remain well above the trend pre-COVID and must necessarily normalize over time as the economy does. Negative sales reports month over month at some point are to be expected but have no connection to economic correction.
Trends over time are what are important not single monthly reports.
🙄
“Real Retail remain well above the trend pre-COVID…”
That is a poor assertion that has no basis in Real Reality.
Retail Sales Miss, Q1 GDP May Contract After Unexpected Slide In Control Group
Jen Psaki is among us!
I didn’t quite get that ?
Go ask Meemaw out for a date.
Trends over time? What do you think the past 14 months of trending are? Prices for everything have been increasing at a much faster rate since sock puppet has been in the WH. Price increases slowed during Trump, but took off again a year ago. Do you not pay attention to prices when you shop? Do you shop? Geez.
My family in general has stopped buying anything we don’t need. We don’t go out to eat anymore.and we live simple lives. However with thot being said having dinner together has managed to bring our family closer….silver linings.
The shiniest silver lining of all.
Recognizing silver linings is a sign of wisdom.
Oh yes, it is, Sharon. Which seems to be in very short supply. Its one of the things I pray for my grandchildren…not happiness which is so fleeing and capricious. Contentment (much better), good judgement, peace within themselves…and wisdom.
I have told them so as well.
We ate dinner every night as a family at the table with no TV- smart phones weren’t really a thing until my youngest was in high school. When we now have dinner as a family (all of my daughters are adults and out of our house), we still sit around the table and chit chat for 30-45 minutes after dinner is complete and talk about life, frustrations, etc…. To this day, we always start with a simple prayer before anyone takes a bite. My son in law picked up that part of dinner very quickly- he’s a good guy!
The economy was artificially stimulated by the distribution of over $ 9 trillion created on a computer screen. Zero of these dollars went to any productive investment. Ignoring the amount that went straight to fraudsters, the rest went to people who didn’t need it or to others who used it to subsidize their inactivity. What will the government do now, more stimulus, more printed money. They will try desperately to pump up the economy again. That’ll cause the next crisis, and on we go.
There is no way out for TPTB now. Decreased monetary velocity (M2V) will cause a deflationary spiral while increased monetary velocity will cause hyperinflation.
It may take a few more years, but the US Petro Dollar is finished. What disturbs me is our current crop of elected officials in Washington DC have absolutely no clue how to deal with it.
I have a friend who works for Walmart. They were told in no uncertain terms NO more overtime.
Gee…I wonder why?
Hard times coming…
My husband works at Lowe’s, and just last night approximately half of the employees at his Lowe’s location got a very depressing phone call… Only those who’ve been with the company over 2 years and on full-time employment status remained employed this morning, (thankfully my hubby included), but even that blessing may not last long. Worrisome, as he’s too old to find another job if it comes to that. What most distresses me is fear and concern for my grandkids, and what they will be forced to endure so unfairly. My grandson is autistic and won’t understand a lot of the things changing so quickly, and hurting himself is his default for stress. I’d really appreciate any prayers that might come his way.
I’ll pray Robin. My daughter, who worked with autistic children for 15 years and adored them with her whole heart, mind, and soul, lost her job due to refusing the Jab. She misses those kids so much it hurts. I will pray for your grandson.
To both, Robin and BFAW… I naively thought once upon a time if I could get my children to adulthood with skills/education and solid values, the major worry or concern I had for them would lessen…yes, I was that naive. In fact, no one could have prepared me for the exponential increase in both, for them and now my grands, which you, Robin, outline so well.
Of course I will add my heartfelt prayers for all in the firm belief that God answers them all, especially intercessionary ones. I know I am not alone in praying for your families whom you love so much.🙏💓
Thank you both, for the prayers and for the kind words.
Thank you 🥰
Out of curiosity, where are you located? This is the first time I am hearing of a company reducing employees. I suspect many more will follow suit. My guess is that the companies were getting rid of unjabbed because it was low fruit and an easy way to dump employees without anyone noticing a downturn in business.
I’m in northern Colorado. And the Lowe’s here didn’t have a jab mandate, fortunately for us. Until 3 weeks ago, they were still looking to hire on more employees, so this seems to have caught them by surprise.
The weirdest times right now. Where i work we are shorthanded and can barely get anyone to apply. For those of us still there, we are stressed almost to the break point. Employees are asking for more money, knowing they can get another job fairly easily, putting management in a bad place. Its ruthless.
I think of the time in the 70’s when a company I worked for ended up closing because the union kept pushing for higher wages. Some guys were making 25 an hour to drive a fork lift while office workers were making 6 an hour, if they were lucky. And these crazy democraps pushing unions (who are just out to skim money off people) have no clue how they themselves contributed to the pay gap which they then bitch about years later. Idiotic.
The “corporations are screwing employees so we need to demand more money” democrap playbook is playing a part in the destruction of this country. Between the shortage of workers, to demanding higher wages, its squeezing employers to the breaking point.
Which helps explain why large companies are not allowing OT and laying off people. Companies are in survival mode and desperately are doing things to stay in business.
They can’t find people to work, so the people who are working are overworked, then the employees demand higher wages because they are working their butts off, at the same time inflation and higher operating costs are hitting them, and businesses are getting squeezed.
Its a no win situation. Whether the uniparty set this up on purpose or they are dealing with consequences of incompetence, or a combo of both, doesn’t even matter at this point. Its at a breaking point and something is going to break.
Sharon, my daughter works for a company in a similar situation to yours: shorthanded, stressed, and no one wanting to apply even though the pay is very good. It’s as if people don’t want to work. Her workplace is now looking to at least try to get summer interns (paid) to help reduce workload and at the same time give the interns experience and perhaps convince some to stay on full-time. It’s a shot…don’t know how well they’ll do, but usually high school/college kids like to get a good paying summer gig…although perhaps the “rigors” of working are too much for them, if you know what I mean. Good luck, Sharon; I pray for Grace and Peace for all who are burdened in these times.
As the world spirals down this self-inflicted hole we will see many cases of those with actual skill being valued above the clerks and other office workers. It’s probably one of the only things that will be balanced a bit.
Thank you for the encouraging words, Sundance. They are always appreciated. As my grandmother always said, the Lord will provide what you need when you need it most. It seems a lot of people have given up shopping for Lent 🙂
My husband, who grew up exceedingly poor in post WWII Britain (his father,
a hard working man, used to pick up coal which had fallen onto the rail tracks to keep his family warm…it was a criminal offence to do so, but as needs must in cold harsh winters with a young family) was told by his dad, “Don’t worry, son…something will always turn up.”
We’ve seen lean times, but he was not wrong. When things looked pretty bleak, something has ALWAYS “turned up”.
Needs and wants are two entirely different thing.
My grandma used to tells us stories of going down the the train yard and picking up the leftover ice from the refrigerated cars to put in her icebox during the depression.
Hard desperate times which I fervently pray will not be repeated. I’ll bet that when she found some she was incredibly grateful and considered it a very good day.
Just drop the “L” and call it the BS report.
I think that if this continues you will see a tectonic shift in not only the political landscape of this country but also in how the media and big tech are treated. Trump was a reaction and he proved to be a good one. I think he was the door kicker and the true transformational president as he was outside the political class.
.
.
.
Sundance you need to add but a single point to make this story perfect. The point is that INCREASED PROFITS because of inflation (that is they are marking up OLD inventory to NEW inventory cost) provides an artificially inflated profit.
I am a 70 year old retired Home Improvement Contractor who bought a cheap house and am working on it, maybe to sell.
I have been talking the point of your story with contractor sales representatives and store managers (and in one case a district manager) at Home Depot and Lowes; and as God is my witness they and the store management above them do not have a clue. All they keep saying is that store sales and PROFITS, year over year are up. Thus things are great!
The stores are empty of customers yet they honestly believe things are great because the numbers do not lie. Reality when it bites, is going to bite hard!
My boss is all gaga too. Saying we are 35% up from this time last year. Dollar to dollar sales that may be true but the bottom line is NOT up 35%! All costs are up and salaries are moving up out of necessity just to keep the people we have (and we’re shorthanded). And we know costs will continue to go up. I don’t get his optimism.
Apparently the price elasticity of demand for some materials has widened a bit since there are some items that people have decided they WILL afford despite the high price. Scarcity of some materials is a major factor in this phenomenon.
If the Saudi’s start trading oil in the Yuan and Russia’s vast natural resources are traded using China’s system and with India privately – the petrodollar goes bye bye as does reserve currency status. At that point, we are in freefall with no way to print money to support are vast population that is dependent on government checks – SS retirees, SS disabled, welfare moms, EBT recipients, military pensioners, federal civilian pensioners, current military and fed employees, government contractors, all hospitals and anyone on medicare/medicaid.
This will be unfathomable.
The reserve currency is already gone – just transitioning to alternatives.
Just as with Canada, when they froze bank accounts, the U.S. freezing Swift and Russian foreign exchange funds will make it a foregone conclusion.
Yes – and the switch is only just a few days old.
In addition to CTH, the warroom and its extended connections know this is happening, plus a handful of others (Lou Dobbs and such).
The general public has no idea.
Please tell all the people you know to get them prepared…
Once it reaches that point civil unrest will result. Hope everyone invested wisely in lead.
Welp, it will cause us all pain, but I don’t see how the bloated Federal system is going to survive not being able to print money or borrow their way out…
maybe we will get lucky and the current system will DIE……
It will be very hard for those you have mentioned Lulu.
The only upside I can see of this is when all of the freeloaders, not retirees, disabled, medicare/medicad, military pensions and a few others lose their benefits also those losing them will be illegal aliens who scoop up freebies, drug addicts who buy their drugs with gov give away money, EBT recipients who buy candy and chips and feed their dogs steak, and all of the foreign governments who receive millions and millions and millions of our money each and every year.
Our Congress hands out free money like it grows on trees and in a way it does because they now can print it endlessly.
America has created an unsustainable welfare state that the whole wide world sucks off of and it must end some how.
It would be nice if we, the voters and citizens, could end this in a nice well planned out way by voting in rational, logical thinking leaders who will stop the outrageous spending but that does not seem to be possible.
The psycho insane leaders that are in DC seem to be set on ratcheting up the spending and destroying America completely.
Printing money to support the vast population that is dependent of government checks had to stop some way some day.
And yes it is going to be ugly, but the way things were goin with the out of control spending and the endless printing of funny money was going to end our country as we know it anyway.
Everyone really needs to think about how they are going to handle this because it is going to be a mess.
The Yuan has a long way to go to be considered the petrodollar. I hope you have time to search all of the impeding factors such as reliability, manipulation etc. Not that they wouldn’t want it to happen though.
I am in Central California. My perception of the economy here is that it is surprisingly healthy (or appears). Costco & Walmarts are busy, lots of building activity, lots of help wanted signs, restaurants busy, etc. I live 1.5 hours aways from San Jose and the San Francisco bay area. I am unsure if it is that or left over stimulus money. I know that bay area people are migrating away from the coast to the Central California area that I live in. I know from reading the data that the national economy is contracting. Being in liberal land, I think many people are unaware of the overall economic conditions because they are believing the media. I am perfectly okay with this because I am currently putting my house up for sale and planning an escape. The sign is supposed to go up tomorrow.
I am in NorCal, 80 miles from SF and I see the same that you see. Stores have lots of shoppers, restaurants busy…I think it’s that they are oblivious of things to come, they should be saving norms spending. But I thinks it’s the ” eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may die” mindset. And lots of reprobate minds
Good for you! Where are you escaping to? Hopefully a Red state.
I saw the same bustling shopping in Costco in Birmingham, AL, but I noticed that most of the shoppers seemed fairly affluent-looking. The buyers were mostly in the food, beverages, and personal items sections, not in the furniture, electronics, or clothing areas.
We pulled up stakes in Bakersfield,CA, in December. Moved to Idaho Falls. Got out while the gettin’ was good.
What a relief!
The day we left Asshole Newsome extended indoor mask mandate went into effect along with new water restrictions that are killing small farmers, and further restrictions on oil and gas drilling.
the current governor of Idaho is a flaming RINO. Hope ya’ll vote for the woman.
Agree. However the house is filled with real constitutionalists . We’ve got a couple of sneaky RINO’s, but they never get their way, besides, they are getting tossed Bigly in the upcoming election.
Looks like the RINOs in the senate need a good waking up. Look what they’ve done.
https://thepostmillennial.com/idaho-senate-blocks-bill-banning-genital-mutilation-surgery-for-minors
Many in California will see a delay in the economy tanking. California was on the doorstep of insolvency until the Biden crooks passed them many billions in ‘thank you’ monies under the guise of Covid19. Rest assured, it will happen though.
there are many items I now do without. I look at the cost, and say, FJB I don’t need that, not at that price.
Plant your garden, even if small it will pay big dividends. Continue to stock up on essentials including vehicle parts (lights, wiper blades, oil and filters, etc.), non-perishable foods, household cleaners and even clothes, especially if you have children who grow out of clothes so quickly. Buy a sewing machine and material to make their clothes. You can do more than you think. Don’t forget HVAC filters, refrigerator filters and other items needed for your home.
Speaking of non-perishable foods (or not very), I use whole grain Wasa crackers a lot as a snack (spread with hummus or peanut butter or guacamole or whatever occurs).
My Hannaford was relatively well stocked today, and it had my Wasa (too healthy to be very popular – many of the things I buy are). However, for the first time, the cracker aisle looked as if thieves had hit it.
Sundance’s warnings about the fertilizer crisis and a coming wheat shortage jumped into my head, and I stocked up on the crackers – which won’t expire for at least a year.
Sometimes it seems there’s enough clothing in thrift stores to keep America dressed until the 30th century. Prices have increased, though—can do better at Walmart for some stuff.
All by design, lower- to middle-class is being forcibly shrunk so this group will eventually accept UBI. The devil’s army never rests… and don’t expect any of your elected officials to restore the Rule of Law, they sold their soul eons ago
I find myself getting more unsettled every day – this might be their plan for all of us, but here’s a question for my fellow Treepers – “They” war gamed out the Ukraine Nato Russia war and came up with a billion casualties, see for yourself although, I can’t find the original text of the report:
https://thefederalist.com/2022/03/04/nato-involvement-in-ukraine-could-spark-nuclear-genocide-heres-how-it-could-happen/
Where are those billion casualties? It looks like Europe has a population of about 750 million, including Russia. The US has a population of 350ish million, Ukraine apparently would be in the Europe total. So that’s 1.1 billion – killing off ALL of Europe and ALL of the US. Now, I would imagine China would lose people due to radioactive fall out, but it looks like there would be very little left of any of the western countries for the WEF control agents to enslave in their great reset. So – what’s the point?
They plan on using robots. Seriously. They don’t want useless eaters. #transhumanism
Very savvy thinking. Here’s another thought — several have posted that the WEF plans to “resettle” Asians because they are “compliant” or perhaps the word was “complacent.”
Well, you can’t “resettle” people in places that have been irradiated. Even Gates should realize that his umpteen million acres of personal farmland would not be exempt from the effects of fallout.
Your all trying to “make sense” of WEF’s plans, and stumbling over the same things that I stumbled over.
They are INSANE.
Their fantacies don’t HAVE to “make sense” their like dreams. Inherently nonsensical, and totally defy reality.
And, the kind of fantasies that would only appeal to those who already have no contact with reality, shielded from negative consequences of their action by wealth, power and priviledge.
Don’t waste your energy trying to “make sense of it”, or to try to judge their actions, based on their own ‘enlightened self interest’.
They are INSANE, and like someone who is truly suicidal, they won’t hestatate to take everyone else down with them.
i agree. Yet we try to make sense of it. If for no other reason than to try to figure out their next step.
Dutch, you are so right…we who have common sense cannot possibly try to guess their next move. Impossible because they come up with craziness that would NEVER OCCUR to us. And, they also believe that if they continue to sledge-hammer their ideas into us via media etc. we’ll finally see the light.
They really are insane.
FJB
It has to do with a nuclear war simulation program. The first 9 days yield about 150 Million. The following fallout and nuclear winter cause the rest. Yes, it is about 950 Million within 12 months.
Nobody wants this. We need steady, sane, experienced, leadership. Not mob popular fantasists.
Hey Cowboy – thanks for laying out the progression. That makes more sense. Radiation drift in the simulation must then also include a sizeable chunk of Asia. Also, probably wishful thinking numbers not including US mainland and I can’t see that happening, if it goes that route. I suspect DC would be nice and toasty, at least. Although, you made me smile with “We need steady, sane, experienced leadership.” because that, we ain’t got at the moment. Well, we do, but they’re all currently out of office.
A positive attitude goes a long way. When the masses are buried in debt from keeping up with the Jonses eventually they will have to sell there stuff for pennys on the dollar. After working two jobs and brown bagging lunch for over 15 years I’m ready. Bring on the pain, it was the only logical conclusion to this sh*t show.
I like your attitude! You are ” a cup half full ” instead of “a cup half empty” thinker.
While not super great I take some solace and comfort in knowing the fact that I/we are right. Yes, we will all suffer the same and we should do our best to lead people to the truth, but in the end…..we are right.
I am at peace with where I stand. This is not a spiritual comment, but just a standard life in this world comment.
Isnt the collapse of everything a part of Build Back Better?
Seems like it.
Absolutely.
So much so that it seems very little thought has been put into the building back side of the plan.
All I know is that most of the people that lost their jobs because of the Jab, didn’t get it back. They tightened their belts then. What happens when the other one loses his or her job? That’s what happens when the economy contracts. I also know that a helluva lot of people have stopped purchasing “extras” and have been stocking up for an apocalyptic collapse. So, the purchasing we are seeing is actually artificially high.
The gas/diesel prices – it’s simple math for me – if the expectation is $10/gal or more and it was less than $2/gal last year before Biden and his minions got busy destroying the economy, that’s a 5x increase. So, say, a loaf of bread was $1, expect it to be $5. If milk was $3/gal, expect it to be $15/gal. If eggs were $2/doz, expect them to be $10/doz. The “Economists” may scoff at my simple math. I care not.
In order to be able to “buy and sell”, they’ll force us into their digital nightmare (Revelations). For the compliant, subsidies will apply. For the noncompliant, hyperinflation. Ration cards for all.
I sincerely hope, as an aside, that all the farmers, ranchers, homesteaders, and otherwise landowner families, will exercise their 2nd Amendment rights with prejudice if a “government entity” attempts to abscond with the fruits of their labor. That’s usually what happens during Communist/Socialist/Marxist takeovers. They declare that they own everything.
Just sayin’
God Bless you Sundance. A year ago my husband thought I was a loon, now he makes a run to the store and asks if there is anything else we need to stock up on.
Just in: Jussie Smollett’s attacker freed from jail after only 3 days.
This is a travesty. So is there a time limit on how long he has to get an appeal?
Disgusting
This one feels different to me, don’t think we have been quite here before. Scary times.
History repeats itself, we just didn’t have the internet before.
The Carter years were similar. But I don’t think they were as intentional.
The problem is socialism is collapsing and they have run out of money to support it.
Maggie Thatcher was right:
“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”
Why isn’t BLM targeting all big box stores like Walmart, et al, and burning them to the ground? Because that would do us all a huge favor, and they don’t want to do that, they’re out to destoy the little guy not the giants.
Tell me, have you seen destruction on the level of what we saw last summer, in ANY big box store? I sure haven’t.
Do you see something wrong with this picture? I see that BLM is not being arrested for any of their crimes, no matter who they’re burning. If a white activist group was doing this, their a$$es would be lying dead on the street or in jail tossed way to the back.
My wife and I planted potatoes today, in our newly built (from scrap wood and wire) raised bed garden. The first of several planned beds. It’s still a bit early for most outdoor plantings in Middle Tennessee, but I do feel so much better now. And in the second bed the first 3 broccoli plants!!! Food security is on the horizon! It has been years since I have had a garden and had forgotten the pure joy that the act of planting can elicit!
Potatoes are easy to grow and store, good chioce!
I hear they are, but I always mess them up somehow. Finally got cherry tomatos figured out, though. I think.
So congress gets a 21% raise, while yesterday my brother got the usual 2.4% that cheerfully ignores inflation, and today RG&E calls up with the news that our bill is going from $250/month to $500/month. 50% inflation to power everyday life.
yep, this is gonna bite hard
I have been paying attention to people’s grocery carts. I see plenty of people shopping, but very little in their carts.
Even at Box name stores, people are buying necessities and not buying non-essential items.
Being newly retired sort of, I’m still adjusting to being on a fixed income. I don’t think I can make enough adjustments to even cover the basics. We’ll see what happens.
I read a post here, yesterday of someone ranting about Samsung, and ATT.
How there $800 samsung phone, was no longer compatible with ATT, or something.
Point is, I have NEVER paid $800 for an idiot I-phone, nor been used by ATT for cell phone service.
About 6 months ago, I took a look at my cell phone situation.
I was paying $80/mo. for Verizon service, my phone was paid off, years ago.
I looked online and, in my area found “Tello” service, $39.95 for the same service.
My old phone wasn’t compatible, but they had a refurbished samsung (S6?) for $100.
So, saving $40/ mo., every month.
The service, quality, etc is the same, ..
So, take a good hard look, set aside ego, and see if you can lower your costs in communication and i-net.
Other cheap providers are Walmart Family Mobile ($89 total monthly for 3 lines) and we recently switched to Mint Mobile which is half that!
I am an eBay seller. My business is picking up but most buyers are making offers for lower prices. I take some and counter offer others. If I get a good sob story I am a sucker for it. A woman contacted me last year as she had a ministry working with kids teaching them baking. I was liquidating a bunch of commercial pans and tools that I had bought. She came to my shop and I filled her SUV to the gills. She bought some of it, but the rest I just gave to the kids. They sent me a thank you note.
I also do well in bad times as that is when I can go to commercial auctions and pick up stuff for pennies on the dollar. I have been through several of these cycles. Auctions are beginning to pick up but I am looking more at commodity items rather than industrial resale. I may have to sit on some items several years for the cycle to pick back up. May not live to see another up cycle.
I would love to do that someday…but I haven’t a clue on how.
Nor did I when I started. I started just before Y2K, so I have been doing this almost 25 years. I started by selling stuff that I already had using eBay like an online garage sale. When I ran out of things to sell, I started buy stuff just to sell. For a while, it was a bit of everything. I would go to yard sales and estate auctions. I had a good eye for things that would sell but I made mistakes. I slowly moved into the things I know the best, industrial maintenance and machine tools. Almost all of the sales are online now, so bargains are harder to get that when all of the auctions were live bidding on site, but not much else has changed. A business will close or sell a bunch of surplus and they hire an auctioneer to make it disappear. I buy what I can and offer it on faith that someone will need it.
Here are the keys. Buy only what you know. Buy it cheap or don’t buy. Don’t get trapped into thinking that you must buy something as there will always be another auction, always. Don’t buy from resellers, buy at the original liquidation. The money you make is determined by how cheap you buy it more than how high you sell it. Price at the low end of the resale market. Ship fast. Treat your customers like you want to be treated.
There are a lot of details. I could write a book.
Interesting. I had some advice from a friend who was supporting her family with eBay; basically, learn a niche market of stuff which costs more than $25/item (because otherwise it’s not worth the time and storage space.) I learned over a year or so and was just getting things starting to sell well when I quit because of eBay being so woke they stopped letting Dr. Seuss books be sold. Have been looking for an eBay alternative ever since.
I figure for the moment it’s better to hang on to the actual goods I have than sell them for money that’s losing value fast.
On SOME level, they DO know whats happening, which is why they have way upped their game of graft, spending Trillions, so they can get their cut.
Thing is, with a truly collapsed economy, and a $ thats worthless (not even good for tp) ….
WE are all on the same footing; you don’t OWN your mansion, the only thing you possess, is what you can defend from the ravening hoards, trying to TAKE it.
Gated community dorsn’t mean anything (except to make you a target) when the security guards don’t show up, cause the $ you would pay them with is worthless.
We are seeing the exact same hubris, arrogance and contempt openly displayed, by our current ruling class, as history has shown before,..and it doesn’t end well, for them.
Really doesn’t matter whether or not she said “Let them eat cake, ha ha!” the attitude was certainly their, and it is mirrored in our current group of think they are betters.
And they will be just as shocked, when they are dragged to the gallows or guiotine.