Credit crunch - and now, the Consumer
The big stock drop today was expected... like the second wave of a tsunami - media reports the credit crunch tangibly affecting the consumer. Today's bad news revolving around consumer panic reminds me of the lender panic of two weeks ago.
Consumer Confidence in U.S. Falls the Most in Two Years; Home Prices Drop
Home prices fall record 3.2% nationally
Credit card defaults keep rising
List of housing sector layoffs
The media really shifted its focus - it wasn't about the lenders and the hedge funds today, it was Everyman. September 18 - the date of the next FOMC meeting to decide on cutting the Fed Funds rate - has become the red letter date that determines whether the Fed will, in essence, support the housing and credit markets... and thus, the consumer. Fed watchers are wary of the arguments the Fed has to keep from dropping the Fed Funds rate and that's what is making the markets nervous.
Technorati Tags: credit crunch, consumer debt, credit card defaults, housing prices, housing market, case schiller, housing layoffs, Fed
I like your very timely info that shows us you really keep your finger on the pulse of the issues. I guess we'll all keep watching and waiting for 9/18/7.
Keep up the great work!
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Thanks Zachary, following wild markets is fun...
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