国产热热热精品,亚洲视频久久】日韩,三级婷婷在线久久,99人妻精品视频,精品九热人人肉肉在线,AV东京热一区二区,91po在线视频观看,久久激情宗合,青青草黄色手机视频

WORLD> America
US retail sales plummet for 6th month in a row
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-14 23:33

President-elect Barack Obama has promised to push a sweeping economic stimulus program of around $800 billion through Congress in the next few weeks, but even with that assistance, economists say the country is facing a prolonged period of weakness.

Many analysts believe the overall economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, plunged at an annual rate of 6 percent in the just-completed fourth quarter after dropping by 0.5 percent in the third quarter.

For December, virtually all areas of retail sales showed declines. Auto sales fell by 0.7 percent and are down a huge 22.4 percent from a year ago.

Excluding autos, retail sales were down a record 3.1 percent. This reflected declines at department stores, specialty clothing stores, furniture stores, hardware stores, restaurants and service stations. The 15.9 percent drop at service stations was heavily influenced by the steep decline in gasoline prices during the month.

Automakers closed out a dismal 2008 with General Motors Corp. having its worst year in nearly a half-century and both GM and Chrysler LLC having to take emergency loans from the government's bailout fund.

Last week, the nation's major chain stores reported dismal sales results for December. Even Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported smaller gains than economists expected. Among the retailers reporting big declines were Sears Holdings Corp., which operates Sears and Kmart stores, luxury retailer Saks Inc. and Gap Inc.

Departing Wal-Mart Chief Executive Lee Scott on Monday told the annual National Retail Federation convention that while a new economic stimulus package from the government will have "some impact" on the economy, he doesn't expect a quick rebound since "fundamental changes" in consumer behavior - an increased focus on saving and less buying - will likely linger.

Scott, who was making his last public speech as CEO and president of the world's largest retailer, predicted that the first half of 2009 will be "extremely challenging," and said he hopes the second half would be a little easier.

   Previous page 1 2 Next Page  

达孜县| 轮台县| 贞丰县| 湘潭市| 大田县| 房山区| 雷波县| 明水县| 报价| 盈江县| 进贤县| 历史| 随州市| 桃园县| 微山县| 普兰县| 滕州市| 万山特区| 梁山县| 榆中县| 友谊县| 苍梧县| 鲜城| 韶关市| 乐东| 颍上县| 彭山县| 藁城市| 太仓市| 晋宁县| 东乡族自治县| 五指山市| 涞源县| 浦江县| 泗水县| 石渠县| 聂拉木县| 昔阳县| 枣强县| 阿尔山市| 沛县|