Bizzy’s AM Coffee Biz-Econ Links (121405)
Confidence Up
My prediction (well, guess) that this Christmas shopping season might be the period when the blackout of good news about the economy gets busted got another boost last Friday–with yet another one of those “beat expectations” reports:
Univ. Michigan: Consumer Sentiment Improving in Dec.
Friday, December 09, 2005NEW YORK — U.S. consumer sentiment improved in early December more than economists had expected, helped by falling gasoline prices and continuing job growth, the University of Michigan said on Friday.
The University of Michigan’s preliminary December index of consumer sentiment rose to 88.7 from November’s final reading of 81.6, according to sources who saw the subscription-only report.
Economists polled by Reuters on average had predicted an increase to 85.5.
The survey’s expectations component increased sharply to 77.3 for early December from 69.6 in November.
The index of current conditions rose to 106.6 from 100.2 in November.
The Fed May Be Near the End of Its Rate-Raising
Good. They’ve gone far enough.
Hoodia Hooey
Appetite-suppressing claims made by promoters of the product are suspect at best:
With another three weeks of holiday treats ahead, what could sound more appealing than an all-natural product that dulls your appetite with no side effects? Hoodia Gordonii — an African plant extract racking up drugstore and Internet sales — claims to be just that. But doctors who treat obesity say there’s only the barest indication of proof that this diet supplement works, and even if it does, many of the pills now on sale contain little or none of the active ingredient.
One thing I wish the people promoting Hoodia would suppress is their urge to send spam e-mails that are clever enough to get past my e-mail program’s junk filter.
