better than expected economic news

New unemployment claims were expected to be 540,000 and came in about 5% lower at 521,000... Retail sales were expected to decline by 1.1%, but actually rose by 0.6%... good news for what drives 70% of the US economy.


"U.S. retailers, including Macy's Inc and Abercrombie & Fitch, recorded better-than-expected sales in September, data showed on Thursday.

Based on 30 retailers, sales at stores open at least a year climbed 0.6 percent, versus expectations for a 1.1 percent decline, according to Thomson Reuters data. Nearly 80 percent of them beat expectations." -- Reuters


I'm not sure how much I like 70% of our economy being driven by the likes of Macys and Abercrombie... but hey...

Well I'm sure for the 521K who filed new claims this really isn't "better than expected." On the flip side, happy days are here again for the 19K spared.

Pez wrote:
"U.S. retailers, including Macy's Inc and Abercrombie & Fitch, recorded better-than-expected sales in September, data showed on Thursday.

Macy's same-store sales down 2.3%
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/macys-same-store-sales-down-23-2009-10-08?siteid=msn

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Macy's Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!m/quotes/nls/m (M 19.44, +0.85, +4.57%) said Thursday that its September sales at stores open at least one year fell 2.3%. Analysts, on average, had expected same-store sales to fall 4.6%, according to Thomson Reuters. Total sales for the five weeks ended Oct. 3 fell 2.4% to $2 billion.

Abercrombie & Fitch Sept same-store sales down 18%
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/abercrombie-fitch-sept-same-store-sales-down-18-2009-10-08-87340?siteid=msn

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. /quotes/comstock/13*!anf/quotes/nls/anf (ANF 34.47, +1.81, +5.54%) said Thursday that its September sales at stores open at least one year fell 18%. Analysts, on average, had expected same-store sales to fall 20.4%, according to Thomson Reuters. Net sales for the five weeks ended Oct. 3 fell 10% to $248.2 million.

Talk about spinning..........must be that fuzzy math again.

LTRT wrote:

Pez wrote:
"U.S. retailers, including Macy's Inc and Abercrombie & Fitch, recorded better-than-expected sales in September, data showed on Thursday.

Macy's same-store sales down 2.3%
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/macys-same-store-sales-down-23-2009-10-08?siteid=msn

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Macy's Inc. /quotes/comstock/13*!m/quotes/nls/m (M 19.44, +0.85, +4.57%) said Thursday that its September sales at stores open at least one year fell 2.3%. Analysts, on average, had expected same-store sales to fall 4.6%, according to Thomson Reuters. Total sales for the five weeks ended Oct. 3 fell 2.4% to $2 billion.

Abercrombie & Fitch Sept same-store sales down 18%
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/abercrombie-fitch-sept-same-store-sales-down-18-2009-10-08-87340?siteid=msn

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. /quotes/comstock/13*!anf/quotes/nls/anf (ANF 34.47, +1.81, +5.54%) said Thursday that its September sales at stores open at least one year fell 18%. Analysts, on average, had expected same-store sales to fall 20.4%, according to Thomson Reuters. Net sales for the five weeks ended Oct. 3 fell 10% to $248.2 million.

Talk about spinning..........must be that fuzzy math again.

Well, technically that is "better than expected". The key to success is setting the bar low!

Markwes wrote:Well, technically that is "better than expected". The key to success is setting the bar low!

(slappin' my forehead)

I should've known better.

LTRT wrote:

Markwes wrote:Well, technically that is "better than expected". The key to success is setting the bar low!

(slappin' my forehead)

I should've known better.

Or maybe you can blow me... it's not like I'm making this sh** up... I never said success I never said anything other than better than expected... here's the source... maybe next time you can think a sec before you switch into tool gear.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0852027420091008?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Pez wrote:

LTRT wrote:

Markwes wrote:Well, technically that is "better than expected". The key to success is setting the bar low!

(slappin' my forehead)

I should've known better.

Or maybe you can blow me... it's not like I'm making this sh** up... I never said success I never said anything other than better than expected... here's the source... maybe next time you can think a sec before you switch into tool gear.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0852027420091008?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Not sure who that was directed at. I was just trying to interject a little humor into the thread. Tough crowd.

Markwes wrote:

Pez wrote:

LTRT wrote:

Markwes wrote:Well, technically that is "better than expected". The key to success is setting the bar low!

(slappin' my forehead)

I should've known better.

Or maybe you can blow me... it's not like I'm making this sh** up... I never said success I never said anything other than better than expected... here's the source... maybe next time you can think a sec before you switch into tool gear.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0852027420091008?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Not sure who that was directed at. I was just trying to interject a little humor into the thread. Tough crowd.

2 quoted, 1 reply = 2 birds, 1 stone

The way I read both Pez's initial post and LTRT's it seems 2 news organizations didn't read their Associated Press scripts.

ah, it's time for a happy post...

yea... my bad... I was bent by LTRT for his overly zealous use of the head scratching smiley... Sorry I asked him to blow me... though I'm game... not as if I would turn down a little neo-con head.

Pez wrote:

LTRT wrote:

Markwes wrote:Well, technically that is "better than expected". The key to success is setting the bar low!

(slappin' my forehead)

I should've known better.

Or maybe you can blow me... it's not like I'm making this sh** up... I never said success I never said anything other than better than expected... here's the source... maybe next time you can think a sec before you switch into tool gear.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0852027420091008?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

Take a chill pill.......unlike the media, I don't jump for joy because one outlet puts a postive spin on otherwise depressing news. They've already forgotten about these uplifting stories.....just sayin'

National retail group offers weak holiday forecast
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091006/ap_on_bi_ge/us_retail_sales_outlook

Gloomy U.S. holiday shopping seen despite upturn
http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE58G4FS20090917

Pez wrote:yea... my bad... I was bent by LTRT for his overly zealous use of the head scratching smiley... Sorry I asked him to blow me... though I'm game... not as if I would turn down a little neo-con head.

, that-that-that's all folks.

meta4 wrote:The way I read both Pez's initial post and LTRT's it seems 2 news organizations didn't read their Associated Press scripts.

ah, it's time for a happy post...

And that my friend is why I offer my last cookie to you.