Positive indicator

Warmer weather is expected by the end of the week, and through March, I think the worst of winter is over...at least for the eastern half of the country...God I hope so...I've had just about enough of it.

Just wanted to ask though...how is warmer weather related to more economic activity? Do people buy less during the winter? I've never really completely understood this concept..lol perhaps no one does?

 

January is that month people are trying to figure out what they did to themselves over the holiday. A lot of people maxed out credit and now they are starting to really see the bills.

Nothing is really getting planted in the northern tier states and the southern states are gearing up for it.


Some of the produce from the SE is starting to come north, and the SW is gearing up for onions among other produce.

With the recent frost on lettuce in the SW, this could be an issue as well this winter/spring on other produce as well.

 

You ain't seen nothing yet if it trends like last year. End of Feb thru end of June was incredible - it made me wonder what things would be like if the economy ever got into high gear again with 5%+ growth. Just heard on the news today demand for gasoline is higher at this point in the year than it has been in 3 decades and prices are rising. If they're driving they're spending.

 

Not sure what you were listening to but demand for gasoline is still in the dumper. I follow it daily. For January it was down 1.9% y/o/y from 2012.

 

speculators young luke....

 

Oil consumption in the US peaked in 2006 at approx 22 million barrels per day. In 2012 we were approx 18.6 million per day. Miles traveled declined considerably and efficiency improved marginally. Worldwide demand is up appox 1.4% mainly due to China. If somebody is telling you it's higher than it has been in decades, they are misinformed. You can easily find statistics on line.

 

demand for oil is up in developing countries.

the biggest demand for oil is actually from consumer commodities that are using plastic for components.

 

I heard it on a news flash xm radio but after a google search, just to make sure I didn't hear something wrong, well sure enough I wasn't paying close attention... What they really stated was that gasoline expenditures are the highest they have been in 3 decades.. ..due to high prices.. sorry about that.. Doesn't matter, I'm still very optimistic.

 

The only positive indicator I see is fuel prices are rising and the rates are still low.
Quoted 2.50 a mile going to queens, ny with all the gawd awful tolls.
Someone took it and thats been the best rate of the day.
I don't go to far from home less empty miles to cover going back.