Retail, Wholesale and Exports Weak

Chain Store Sales (week ended 12/8/2012)

ICSC-Goldman Store Sales

Store Sales – Week/Week change -0.7%, Previous was -3.1%.
Store Sales – Year/Year 2.5%. Previous was 3.2%. 
Redbook

Store Sales Year/Year +2.2 %. Previous was +2.1%.

These Chain Store number are weak.

Wholesale Trade (October 2012)

Inventories – Month/Month +0.6%.  Previous was +1.1%.
Wholesale Sales were -1.2%.

Consumer Spending drives almost everything.  The weakness in wholesale is a correction for too optimistic inventory growth.  The consumer is not spending as much as anticipated.

 
Trade Balance (October 2012)

– Trade deficit was $42.2 billion.  Previous was $41.5 billion.  Exports fell 3.6% in October.  Weak economies in Europe and Japan are affecting the U.S.