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Strategies & Market Trends : Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: regli who wrote (43466)	12/27/2005 2:18:47 AM
From: mishedlo	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116555

Condo Crazy in Pittsburgh globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com Mish

To: regli who wrote (43466)	12/27/2005 2:30:40 AM
From: mishedlo	Respond to of 116555

The end of the real estate boom kitco.com

To: regli who wrote (43466)	12/27/2005 10:14:29 AM
From: mishedlo	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116555

The Day After Christmas, Shoppers Take a Holiday Many retailers hoping for a big finish to the holiday season instead had lighter-than-expected crowds over the long Christmas weekend, according to anecdotal reports, leaving stores to rely heavily on the next few days to pump up December sales. Explanations for the lackluster finish varied: an unusually warm winter hurt cold-weather clothing sales, greater gift card use delayed purchases and higher energy costs discouraged splurges. C. Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group, dispatched researchers to stores in five cities yesterday - Boston, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas and Orlando, Fla. - where they found relatively few shoppers, considering that it was a federal holiday. "All of us thought that these stores would be packed early and often but it never materialized," he said. And the new savior is: Millions of unspent gift cards could prove to be another boon to retailers, and stores rushed out new merchandise yesterday to entice those shoppers, because most retailers do not count the money on the cards as sales until it is spent. "Redemption days are going to be very important this year," said Michael P. Niemira, head economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers, who described the season so far as "O.K." nytimes.com

To: regli who wrote (43466)	12/27/2005 11:17:27 AM
From: LLCF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 116555

Agreed... although: <In my opinion, Iran doesn’t represent a threat to the U.S. but feels they need a nuclear capability to defend themselves. However,> These are not mutually exclusive. Iran with launchable nuclear missiles would indeed be dangerous... if not to the US directly. Some type of defacto blockade would be necessary if they are found to have 'suitcase' bombs. <Though it might be too late by now, the U.S. needs to again discover that diplomacy is a much more fruitful way to succeed and prosper.> Although I agree that the US has completely mismanaged it's foreign policy over the decades since WW2, the above is not always true, not even close. You're assuming everyone is like you. As you know from personal experience, you can't really talk to some people about peace co-operation, etc. Some people only care about themselves. Chamberlain found that out the hard way... everyone though Churchhill was a rabid fool because he recognized the essence of the German government. <Even in many parts of Europe, China today is viewed more favorably than the U.S., something completely unimaginable only a few years ago. U.S. cultural exports (movies, music) are suffering. > People make mistakes. :) Viewing the Chinese govt more favorably than the US would be a mistake. <I am, however, not very optimistic as this administration has shown no diplomacy skills whatsoever. > I am hopeful that Bush admin will be gone before anything important needs to be done ala Iran or anything else. < I am not sure where it will lead to in the short run, however, I am certain that over the long haul the end of the U.S. empire is in sight.> Empire? I assume you mean technological superiority or some such term? Historically speaking, there is no "Empire" unless you mean Guam and Hawaii. :)) DAK