Since he opened his flower business 18 years ago, Ashok “AK” Komar has watched storefront after storefront empty from this block of Manhattan. Pointing through the tall tropical plants for sale to businesses up and down the street, Komar, 41, lists out each flower wholesaler gone dormant. It’s easy to […]
This morning the Commerce Department will publish its count of all the retail products and services sold in March. Here are five things to look for when the numbers are released at 8:30 EDT. 1. Auto sales will accelerate… but not too fast Motor vehicle sales are 20 percent of […]
Jonell Marty, a fifth-grade teacher in the Minneapolis suburb of Apple Valley, received $60 more in her paycheck on February 5, her first to incorporate the Trump tax cuts. Marty, who has taught for more than three decades, makes $86,000 a year. She is putting the extra $1,440 per year […]
Soft auto sales dragged down overall retail sales in February and consumers did not spend enough to pick up the slack. Retail sales decreased by one-tenth of a percent from January, according to Commerce Department figures released Wednesday, to a seasonally adjusted $447.31 billion. January retail sales were also one-tenth […]
Retail sales shrunk in January, ending several months of consumer spending growth fueled by drawing down savings and going into debt. The Commerce department reported Wednesday that overall retail sales declined 0.3 percent. Fewer people bought cars and car parts. The increase in gasoline prices, up 3 percent, sapped consumer […]