SillyDog701

[Antony]

Due to recent financial downturn which affecting many of us. For those who don't have investments on stock markets or similar, they are still being affected.

The retailers and The Government are worried about bad performance on the retailer sector this Christmas. (This, if true, will have some bad consequences.)

I am just curious to know, as a consumer, do you plan to tighten up your spending for this Christmas?

Voting is anonymous, comments are welcome.

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[Edward]

With the economy in general being the way it is in the U.S., I don't think the retailers will do better than they did last year.

I saw an article in one of the Boston newspapers today that a certain mall owner will actually guarantee the gift cards of retailers who are their tenants, if the retailer files a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and doesn't honor its gift card as a result. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the U.S. is a liquidation.

Informational web site

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[Antony]

I've noticed the crowd is a bit less compared to previous years. Many people were just window shopping without a shopping bag on their hands. It is a good thing that consumers are more careful with their money.

The good thing is retailers are offering discounts earlier this year.

And I know I am bad, I already started my Christmas shopping about a month ago.

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[Edward]

And some will be finished with their Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving (in the U.S.)

I haven't begun yet. The real bargains start to appear the closer it gets to Christmas.

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[Mandrake]

I'll be spending roughly the same this year as the last. The interest rates and fuel prices have dropped sharply here, which has come as a welcome relief!

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[Antony]

I'll be spending roughly the same this year as the last. The interest rates and fuel prices have dropped sharply here, which has come as a welcome relief!

Yes, that's the good thing. However, food price and transport cost (fare and tolls) are said to increase shortly (in Sydney).

Slightly off-topic here:
Once in a shopping centre car park, I noticed one family. They drive a flashy 4WD car with 3 or 4 kids. Judging by the 4WD car and their clothing, they don't seem to be poor. And they shop at ALDI instead of mainstream supermarkets. (ALDI supermarket is known for selling cheaper and non-branded items.)

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[Antony]

A related news,
According to this morning's Sunrise program, the word US Government refused to use - bailout is the Word of The Year by The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

bailout - [beyl-out]
a rescue from financial distress.

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[Happy Dude]

Once in a shopping centre car park, I noticed one family. They drive a flashy 4WD car with 3 or 4 kids. Judging by the 4WD car and their clothing, they don't seem to be poor. And they shop at ALDI instead of mainstream supermarkets. (ALDI supermarket is known for selling cheaper and non-branded items.)

That's probably how they can afford it

I'll probably spend less this Christmas... everythings going up and everything I wanted to get for people, someone else already got

(Off-topic again - is it me, or is it BP pushing up fuel prices? Driving home from school today (lol, learners), I saw the BP at 116.9cents/litre for unleaded (regular as Yanks would know) yet a Caltex (independent I think) literally across the road we're still selling at 99.8cents/litre.

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[Antony]

(Off-topic again - is it me, or is it BP pushing up fuel prices? Driving home from school today (lol, learners), I saw the BP at 116.9cents/litre for unleaded (regular as Yanks would know) yet a Caltex (independent I think) literally across the road we're still selling at 99.8cents/litre.

I have been paying for nearly 160 cents/litre in the past. The petrol price is certainly getting better these days.

I would say the petrol price is hugely depended on the location (and the competition), as well as the time of the day. In Australia, it is well know that Tuesday is the cheapest day for petrol, besides that, the time of the day will also give you different prices. My observation based on a petrol station (Coles Express Shell) near my place... filling up the tank at midnight or 1am gives you the best deal.

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[Edward]

Gasoline prices have dropped considerably here.

Since July, regular gasoline (87 octane) went from over $4.00/gallon to $1.77 yesterday (USD).

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[Antony]

Another official interests rate cut today by The Reserve Bank of Australia. 1% cut. The government is trying very hard to encourage people to spend.

Newspaper reports that due to recent mortgage rate cuts and dropping of petrol, people are better off, but not spending. (news.com.au)

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