Blog 7 (U.S. Retail Sales Rose in February)

robust - strond and healthy; hardy; vigorous
http://www.dictionary.reference.com/

volatile - tending to fluctuate sharply andn regularly
http://www.dictionary.reference.com/

timidity - lacking in self-assurance, courage, or bravery; easily alarmed; timorous; shy
http://www.dictionary.reference.com/


This article talks about how sales have gone up in February because of robust spending of consumers. According to the Commerce Department retails sales increased by 0.3 percent from January. Also, when gas and car prices were not fluctuating and the sales were excluded the increase was stronger by 0.9 percent. An economist by the name of Alan Levenson from T. Rowe Price said, "Employment is falling more slowly, wages are growing modestly and hours worked are expanding, giving a lift to incomes." Economist expect the spending of consumers to gradually rise, even though they know it won't be close to even getting the economy out of the major down turn. Economists have nocticed that retail sales have gone up across the board in things such as electronics, clothes, buliding materials, and restuarant and bars. Another interesting thing is that the amount of money that Americans kept in their savings accounts fell in January and consumer borrowing increased for the first time in a whole year!

* I think retail sales will increase and stay steady slow, but surely. If spending remains robust and consumers keep spending then the economy may get out of its down turn in a little more than a couple of years. Also, if consumer borrowing keeps increasing then everything will keep circulating and we will be all good.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/business/economy/13econ.html?ref=economy