EmeryVILLe Buy-Nothing-Day Critical Mass

Did you all hear about the declining American economy? You can enjoy your bike ride around the empty stores, empty parking lots, empty streets. This writer does not participate in The Money Season, but if you are going to protest, you should know what is happening in the economy, all made possible by the private profit economy that puts guns before butter. Here it is:

1. 11/14/08, "Deloitte Consumer Spending Index Turns Negative for the First Time Since 1980" at
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Deloitte-Consumer-Spending-Index-Turns/story.aspx?guid=%7B44D06852-E13D-4F5F-B6AE-0ECC40C8E7FB%7D

"The Deloitte Research Leading Index of Consumer Spending fell into negative territory in October, "

"The Index, comprising four components -- tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices -- fell to -0.10 percent, from a revised gain of 0.54 percent a month ago. "
"This is the first time the Index has produced a negative reading since October 1980. In the past three months, the Index has fallen 1.75 percent, the sharpest deceleration in the Index since October 1990."

2. 11/15/08: "Consumer spending drops record 2.8 percent" at
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1115/p90s01-usec.html

3. 11/10/08: "As Consumer Spending Worsens, Sears (SHLD) Moves In The Cross Hairs"
http://www.247wallst.com/2008/11/as-consumer-spe.html
"Consumer sentiment and consumer spending may be bad today, but according to a major new survey, they are going to get much worse over the next three months. Among the largest victims of the slowdown are Sears (SHLD), Bed Bath and Beyond (BBBY) and Macy's (M)."

4. 11/18/08: "Economists say recession is here, and will last"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/18/BU161469Q4.DTL&hw=consumer+spending&sn=006&sc=680

5. 11/15/08: "Retail sales: biggest monthly drop since 1992"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/15/BUE6144MP7.DTL&hw=consumer+spending&sn=024&sc=259

6. 11/14/08: "Outlooks point to painful holiday for retailers"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/11/14/financial/f123005S76.DTL&hw=consumer+spending&sn=026&sc=249

7. The next Consumer Price Index report was Nov 19, 2008 at
http://www.bls.gov/CPI/

"On a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI-U decreased 1.0 percent in
October following very little change in September and August. The large
October decline was the largest one month decrease since publication of
seasonally adjusted changes began in February 1947."

8. 11/21/08: "Jobless claims hit highest level since 1992" at
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/21/BUOG1490TF.DTL&hw=Consumer+spending&sn=011&sc=304

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/05/05/18410179.php

Best buy

I may be filming this "Buy Nothing Day" Critical Mass event in Emeryville with a professional camera on Friday, Nov. 28. If you plan on attending, or if you're organizing for it or know someone who is, PLEASE contact me and let me know. I have a few questions for anyone who will be organizing and/or attending it.


Thanks,
Joseph
josephj [at] berkeley.edu