America, your corporate overlords want to know why you aren't using the gas savings to go shopping..

[marmar]

Sales at U.S. retailers rose less than forecast in October as consumers pocketed the money saved after fueling up their cars.

Purchases increased 0.1 percent after being little changed in September, Commerce Department figures showed Friday. The median forecast of 84 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 0.3 percent gain. Receipts at service stations dropped for a fourth consecutive month as gasoline prices declined.

Consumers are showing some caution going into the key holiday-shopping season even as hiring reached a 10-month high in October and subdued prices at the pump support household budgets. The possibility of the Federal Reserve’s first increase in the benchmark interest rate since 2006, in addition to the fluctuations in stock prices, could limit Americans’ enthusiasm for shopping sprees.

“The consumer still is sitting on a fair amount of windfall from low gasoline prices,” said Ryan Sweet, a senior economist at Moody’s Analytics Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania, who correctly projected the change in sales. “I think we’ll see the consumer spend a little bit more aggressively through the rest of this year and into 2016 as we get a little bit more wage growth.” ...........(more)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-13/retail-sales-rise-less-than-forecast-as-americans-save-gas-money

[hatrack]

1. Didn't they also ask why recent graduates w. $100K debt aren't buying houses & getting married?

These Millennials -so immature!

[Rex]

2. This is the same bullshit they asked us last year and we all told them to F-off with their savings.

Too many people are barely making it paycheck to paycheck. That extra 'savings' goes into buying their kids new glasses or finally being able to afford braces.

Moody's can shove it.

[Fred Sanders]

6. Exactly. Corporations hate folks who save for their future! Somehow saved gas expense HAS to

be spent.....just like a business would do!?? How is that any way to run a business?

Putting the lie easily enough to the false meme of government/home/business management being exactly the same.

By the way....thanks, Obama! I will give you credit when the mass media will only give you pain when the prices rise.....responsible when they rise, nothing to do with it when they are low....

[The2ndWheel]

7. It's not just corporations that don't like savers

Everyday we hear that people who spend the money are those that don't have all the money. Get it their hands, get the money circulating, jobs will be created, and the economy will grow.

That's the whole point of these low interest rates. Nobody in this economy wants people to save their money. If a few do, nobody cares. When more average people save their money(or just pay down debt), those in power say we need government stimulation to get people spending all the money they can.

[Sherman A1]

15. Precisely

There are far too many living paycheck to paycheck and pretty much everything has gone up, so there are no real savings to be had for most.

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. I love the lower gas prices because I drive a lot but

I am still trying to catch up from when gas was so high.

And stuff like food and utilities - basic stuff - are all higher now.

[DetlefK]

4. What about the bail-out money Wall Street refuses to put into the economy?

Why aren't they using their savings to go shopping for some investments?????????????????

[PowerToThePeople]

5. Because, go f yourself oligarchs!

I have been only buying essential purchases for a few years now. I think I can do it for the rest of my life. I am going to try.

[Johonny]

8. because it is all going to people's insane rent hikes

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Every Service provider model is based on net profit.

Water service fees have increased because folks are conserving. Power Companies rate increases are happening because folks are conserving. Trash haulers are increasing fees because folks are conserving. Gas prices may be falling but the spread between wholesale and retail is increasing because folks are conserving. Notice the theme. Now,look at your Service Bills,notice all the local and city county fees (taxes)associated with your billing. Many of these are increasing as the results of short falls as a result of us conserving. The real kicker is,retail prices for groceries,especially non perishables are no seeing their annual October November increases. Been to the Hardware Store lately,hang on to your pocket book,all that repair stuff from China has taken a huge price increase.

The people who are whining about us Peasants not spending money,hey,ask them what a loaf of bread costs. Wise fellow once told me this,when you do not know what a loaf of bread cost,you have made enough money and you need to share.

[bemildred]

10. Tough. nt

[City Lights]

11. A windfall, Mr. Sweet?

That's a bit of a stretch, don't you think?

[Mariana]

12. Maybe the assholes haven't noticed

that many of the prices for other things we need to buy are still rising. My electricity rate per KWH just went up, for example. Fuck them.

[JEB]

13. Make do. Look for free or used goods. Harder times are coming.

[NorthCarolina]

14. And WHY the hell you won't just relent to the Hillary/Jeb contest they had planned. eom

[canoeist52]

16. Any savings in fuel got eaten up by our health, homeowner's and car insurance hikes.

We're losing money at this point. And the price shocks continue.

[SoCalDem]

17. "...The consumer still is sitting on a fair amount of windfall from low gasoline prices..." Hah!

The money they are "saving" just means they no longer have to charge as much of their ordinary expenses on their credit cards..

Perhaps the slight lessening of monetary stress might be making them feel a bit better and less likely to partake in "shopping therapy"..

[Shandris]

18. Gas prices have been down what, half the year?

In 26 weeks of 'savings', at ~$1.30/gallon saved from our old, relatively steady prices, I saved...*calculates*...

...something to the effect of $60. I bought Fatal Frame 5 for $53.00, so I think I've done my part.

What, they thought normal people saved more than that? Not sure how... And that's not counting the sudden 22% insurance spike. I guess that was my Christmas Present. Erm...car insurance, not health.

[Skittles]

19. you can always tell the people wondering such nonsense live in a freaking bubble

f*** them

[WinkyDink]

20. I don't get the math. Lower gas prices don't mean people have more money. Maybe they are in less

debt. Maybe they could drive more or farther.

[hobbit709]

21. What savings? Gas may have gone down but everything else has gone UP.