Christmas Shopping At All Time Low

Predictions are that this may be the worst Holiday Season for retailers in over 30 years. No one seems to know the reason. Could it possibly be the rising fuel costs. Hummmmm, I wonder. Soaring fuel costs are driving up the prices of all the living necessities. Believe me when I say that everyone out there is going to take care of their needs first and their wants later. According to the Government inflation is only up .03% over the last couple of months. There is no way that I am going to swallow that bunch of bologna!!! Gas prices in my area are now above $3 a gallon. This time last month they were $2.77 a gallon. This time last year they were $2.23 a gallon. Have you noticed that everything makes the price of oil jump??? The Middle East tensions, the weather, any disaster, too hot, too cold, supply, demand, OPEC decisions, Oval Office decisions, the war on terror, and the lists go on and on!!! What the @#%? It's enough to make a preacher cuss. The increases in fuel prices have the same effect on everything. IT ALL GOES UP! People are not shopping this year because they are afraid they will have to choose between gasoline, food, or medicine in the not too distant future. Unfortunately some folks have already been making this type of choice. Something has to be done soon! With family incomes not going near as far, the retailers had better brace themselves for a slow Holiday Shopping Season this year. I guess we really shouldn't be too worried though, every other day I see President Bush on T.V. saying that prices are not inflated and the economy is good, and we should all just try to use less gasoline...ect!!! I wonder how much he has cut back, don't you??? Who knows, maybe the people in the oil business will by enough shit this year to make up the difference!