What Are Consumers Buying? Cars, Food, And Stuff For Their Home

5.) Changes with “interest rates, rates of economic growth, fiscal and monetary policies of the government, inflation, deflation, consumer credit availability, consumer debt levels, tax rates and policy, unemployment trends, oil prices, and other matters that influence the availability and cost of merchandise, consumer confidence, spending and tourism could adversely impact the Company’s business and results of operations” (macysinc.com, pg.78).

The United States department of commerce found out that the nation is becoming weaker. Economy had increased how consumers blow their paychecks on unnecessary items. For example, many Americans are not able to pay their rent, yet still buy play stations 4 and a 52 inch plasma TV. Most Americans spend money when going to a gas station, in game purchase or paying full price for clothes. People who pay for items in full price should be more responsible with their money. However, Alyssa Battistoni

As the unemployment rate rises, even those who have jobs begin to get a little nervous. Seeing their neighbors and co-workers losing their jobs makes the employed start to wonder, “Am I next?” Therefore, they are likely to cut back on extra spending as well. So, next year’s trip to Daytona gets cut from their budget, just in case. Ticket sales start to fall not only because the unemployment rate is rising, but also because people are feeling less secure in their finances.

As Black Friday has progressed along with retailors marketing their products and their sales, it has become a national day of shopping to get the best deals. Americans mainly go shopping on this day to get huge deals for Christmas presents. Stores have even taken this great opportunity to open their establishments for 24 hours. Just last year, consumers spent a whopping $57,400,000,000 with each consumer individually spending $410 on average. The #1 retailor customers purchased from and camped out at was Best Buy. All of the statistics are based on 2013 and this year was projected to be an 11% increase.

“An estimated two-thirds of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) comes from retail consumption. Therefore, store closings and openings are an indicator of how well the U.S. economy is recovering after the Great Recession in the late 2000's.”[1]

In the United States, their are about 1 million outlets (stores), and numerous amounts of online retailers that sell items to the public. The demand in this industry is primarily driven by spending and interest rates. Due to this fact economic health affects consumer confidence and spending. But overall there has been a consistent trend of sales in the sector as a whole. Overall in the United States, the industry has a combined revenue of about five trillion dollars. Revenue (in current trading dollars) for retail trade in the US is to forecasted to grow an annual compounded rate of five percent between 2015 and 2019. In addition, total United States retail sales increased 2.1 percent in the first ten months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.

The social perceptions surrounding the recession are strong influences on every individual’s personal economic decision making. Taking into consideration other influences such as the media, possible psychological errors, and personal self awareness and control it is easy to see how the current mood is fairly

Perhaps one of the most controversial, creative and courageous times in American history; the decade after the first world war would take America as a nation to the front of the world stage. It is best summed up in a reflective editorial from the small newspaper, The Atlanta Constitution, “The people of every age think theirs is the “golden age” of the world—and they think aright. The age we live in is the alivest and best that mankind has ever known” (Howell 8). And although there were aspects of the 1920s that seem to support the argument that the decade was reactionary, when seen alongside the loud, roaring culture and society, these events simply fade into background noise.

The current weak and volatile economic conditions, particularly in the United States and Canada, have impacted consumer spending. These week economic conditions will continue to impact consumer spending and purchasing habits for the foreseeable future. Consumers’

Consumers are in the process of resetting priorities and that spending patterns will look different from the recent past. We see a “new normal” shopping environment, with a more constrained consumer, which will force the sector to adjust to lower sustainable levels of demand, and lead investors to lower their long-term secular growth expectations.

The economic state at present is poor with Unemployment at highest level for a decade (Swaine, 2008), which means less people with disposable income, reducing sales. This also means people with jobs may be worried about losing them so they are saving instead of buying.

The US economy has recovered considerably from the great financial crisis of 2008. We are currently in the seventh year of expansion, and the overall performance of the economy has been satisfactory. Most economic indicators have improved dramatically, and some of them are at the best level since then. A significant recovery in home prices, GDP, labor market, stock markets, auto sales, and consumer spending have fostered the economic growth and restored the confidence of market participants.

Over the years, the economy in the United States has gone up and down. There were times where things were doomed and people lost their jobs. However ,this society has also prospered and created new forms of advancement. The world we live has turned its focus to the gaining production has to offer and its profits. This country has turned into a consumer-based economy. The real issues lie just within that. As the United States of America continues to become superior, one must understand the errors made within the economy. Having a consumer-based economy has caused tremendous failure, whether one knows it or not. It does not seem adequate to allow such system as the best for everyone, nor should the government feel as though they have the right

In recent years, Christmas holiday shopping has begun earlier and earlier, starting even before the end of October. Stores, street lights, and houses are decorated with brightly colored lights, animatronics, and inflatable images of Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and the Grinch. Holiday sales begin on Thanksgiving instead of Black Friday, making it impossible for salespeople to spend time with family, enjoying food and games while reflecting on all that the family has to be thankful for. Admittedly, I am not a fan of shopping on Black Friday, but I have friends that say that getting up early and rushing around stores for special bargains is a fun family tradition; however, it seems that every year there are media reports of people being injured or fights breaking out over getting that one all important item. Many people go into debt making credit card purchases of nonessential items. All that aside, though, the holiday season causes many people to become more charitable, providing food to the homeless, visiting lonely elders in nursing homes and providing clothing and gifts to children in need; it would be wonderful if people kept that giving spirit all year long.

Consumers are gearing up to buy family and friends unforgettable gifts. But before they head to the checkout, more than 50% of buyers will conduct research online for their holiday shopping.