Learn why many women’s post-work saving plans fall behind and what they can do to catch up.
‘Black Friday’ retail sales decline versus ‘08
The U.S. propaganda-machine has been steadily ratcheting-up expectations for the 2009 holiday-shopping season. This is not surprising. As a consumer economy, the health of the retail sector is critical to the overall health of the U.S. economy, and the retail sector itself is totally dependent on the Christmas shopping season.
Clearly the U.S. government cannot pretend the U.S. (consumer) economy is “growing” if, in fact, retail sales are declining. Officially, the preliminary reading for “Black Friday” sales (the day after U.S. Thanksgiving) showed a tiny 0.5% increase. However, that figure is not adjusted for inflation.
John Williams, of Shadowstats.com has pointed out that while official inflation showed the largest decline (i.e. deflation) since 1950, that if the same methods of measurement were used today as in 1950 that it “did not drop below 5%, at worst, in the current cycle”. Thus, while Americans might have spent a tiny bit more money this year, they purchased less goods.
Short Diagonal Calendar Call Spread
Have you ever wondered how you can profit on a stock no matter which way it breaks out? What if you are unsure of the direction of break out but chances are better that the stock will break out downwards? The solution is the Short Diagonal Calendar Call Spread. It is an options trading strategy that profits no matter which way a stock breaks out with a much higher profit if it breaks out to downside! Free online tutorial with examples and worded for the layman.