Sherry Cooper Consumer Quotations

October and November ... sales each registered substantial gains (excluding autos), pointing to a reasonable fourth-quarter consumer spending figure when all is said and done.

Overall, this can be viewed as more evidence that the consumer is hanging in well despite the run-up in oil prices and growing equity market volatility.

The cooling U.S. housing sector should apply a dampener to consumer spending... but some of this could be offset by still-decent job growth.

The cooling US housing sector should apply a dampener to consumer spending as 2005-2006 unfolds, but some of this could be offset by still-decent job growth.

The cooling U.S. housing sector should apply a dampener to consumer spending as 2005-2006 unfolds, but some of this could be offset by still-decent job growth.

The cooling U.S. housing sector should apply a dampener to consumer spending ... but some of this could be offset by still-decent job growth.

Although the cooling U.S. housing sector is going be a major drag on consumer spending as 2006 unfolds, consumers are starting the year in an upbeat mood, buoyed by solid labor markets. As such, U.S. consumer spending could display more early-year resilience than is currently expected.

The Christmas season this year might well bring cheer, but consumption growth next year is bound to slow, ... From an annual pace of nearly 4.0 percent in 2004, consumer spending will likely grow at a 3.5 percent rate this year, decelerating to a 2.25 percent pace in 2006.

All in all, the year-over-year trend in income jumped to 6.1 percent from 5.4 percent, suggesting that consumer fundamentals remain very strong, ... Consumer spending remains on a tear.