Umi at the Sales
Oh what fun it is to ride … the rollercoaster ride of the past months on the global economy! People seem to be shrugging off the Euro debt crisis and US “double dip fears”, rains and flooding. Christmas still brings out the good in people. And their wallets too. Here we are at the days leading up to Christmas and New Year with the report of US Consumer Confidence at an all-time high and they’ve got the shopping bags to prove it!
A drop in unemployment, tamed oil prices and a rebound in stocks may be helping boost confidence, according to an article in Bloomberg.
I say, it’s a woman’s way to skirt a recession. As I’ve said before shopping activity stimulates the economy, keeps businesses running and people employed. So what are the best ways to stimulate the economy i.e. go shopping :
1. Buy Fresh Food – fresh food are usually sourced locally. You are helping the producers/ farmers and their staff keep the business and this has the effect that they spend on the local economy too. Keep spreading the good stuff!
2. Clothing – well most of these are manufactured elsewhere, but just think of the many women who are working in these factories to produce them. The raw materials also tend to be sourced in other places – actually US produces much of the cotton (raw materials), and transport companies also participate in the business plus all those “pit stop” areas along their routes. Wear to care!
Baby and Bags
3. Gardening and Home = sprucing up your place not only adds to the Christmas spirit but with the beauty around you lessens stress and enjoy your life. Now that’s worth spending money on!
4. Durable goods = yes, why not buy a new washing machine, maybe even a car for Christmas? They’re on sale especially I think in January. It’s a good time to grab a bargain. Again this kind of products are produced in other places with raw materials also sourced elsewhere strengthening the spending power in other economies. What happens next is that the people with extra money, say from China, go and travel,,, and where do they go? Overseas! US West Coast has seen a lot of tourist arrivals from China, and spend big in the attractions and hotels (keeping staff employed!). See, we’re in this together!
5. Local business establishments = yes, your friendly neighborhood green grocer, restaurant, cafe, bakery, beauty salon, dentist etc. would surely appreciate the business and keep the money moving around the local economy.
The main challenge of course is to keep the income coming in. So allow me to do a shameless plug of my book that helps women especially, earn money from what they know about shopping (for more shopping!)
Check the full article on consumer confidence here :
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-09/consumer-confidence-in-u-s-climbs-more-than-forecast-to-a-six-month-high.html
