The Water Cooler – Party City Is Gone – What Store Do You Think Will Close Next?

ANY business that relies on disposable income,
spare dollars after bills and purchase of necessities of life, is in danger.
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Over a year ago credit card debt was higher than it was at end of 2007,
that recession lasted six months.
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https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FEDFUNDS
Grey shaded areas on chart are recessions and dark blue line is federal funds rate.
FED raise rates too high then reduces rate too late. Relation of rate peak the rate reduction and recessions.
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Takes roughly 10 quarters for government or FED monetary policy, to effect the economy.
Consumer debt is already well past 2007 levels. What happens to the economy when credit cards are no longer an option for consumers and when there’s NO discretionary income to spend?
By time FED realizes what’s happening, it’s too late.
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Ben Bernanke was smartest Federal Reserve chairman in history of Federal Reserve.
17 July 2013 he told senate,

‘‘if we were to tighten policy, the economy would tank.’’
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For 12 years of democrat regimes 2009 – 2017 and again beginning 2021 businesses could not make accurate business plans, because there was not political stability and regulatory certainty so they sat on excess cash, keeping it on the sidelines hurting the economy. FED rate manipulation is usually too late and goes on too long. [ puts soap box away ]
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When you’re out on errands note which businesses have gone out of business then think, were they a business that relied on disposable income.

Sears. The automotive has been closed for years…..and Penney’s.

I suspect any store trying to compete with online availability of the products they sell will struggle to remain open. Aside from just the higher cost of rent/leasing, the physical storefronts also have significant and growing regulatory burdens brought on by the politicians (increased minimum wage, taxes, code requirements) and rampant theft/undesirables tweeking in front of stores (even with the passage of returning to making crime illegal, prosecutors will not pursue, and dems seem to hate the thought of criminals having to spend time in prison) limiting traffic, to name a couple reasons. Ace Hardware comes to mind.