Sherry Cooper Spending 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.

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.

U.S. consumers are feeling the benefits of higher incomes and are spending more to reflect their good moods, ... Buoyed by record confidence, income growth, and a super-tight jobs market, the consumer is showing no signs of slowing and should continue to propel the U.S. economy.

After a spring lull, consumers are back on track. While we do expect some cooling in the fourth quarter due to the pinch from higher energy prices, spending growth remains remarkably resilient.

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.

The future path for monetary policy depends critically on at least a flattening out of interest-sensitive spending, ... It is touch-and-go whether the softness in interest-sensitive spending is sufficient to be consistent with the required degree of overall economic slowing.