J.D. Associates Retail POS Solutions Blog

HELP WANTED--Professional Worrier

My 84-year-old mother, dear lady that she is, happens to be a professional worrier.  A day doesn’t go by without a worry list.  If it happens that there is nothing current to worry about, she digs something up from a past list.  If, perchance, she is having a halfway decent day, she always says “everything is going okay, so far……”   I used to question her worries but realized over time that any challenge to her “profession” (worrier) would only result in more worries.  So I gave up and like a dutiful son, I now just listen.

The mass media happen to be a lot like my mother.  Worry sells news.  Most of what you read and watch in the news is negative.  Very little time is devoted to the positive.  Take for example the evening news.  Almost the entire 30 minutes of the news is devoted to “bad” news.  Only at the very end of one network newscast do they have a regular segment lasting about a minute highlighting some positive news.  So why wouldn’t they do the same when talking about the economy and retail sales?
The latest news from the Commerce Department reported on April 14, 2010 was that retail sales had beat market expectations for the second month and risen 1.6% instead of the 1.2% expected.  This rise can be attributed to several factors:

1. PENT-UP CONSUMER DEMAND - In spite of the high unemployment rate, the consumer is tired of self restraint.  Most consumers have been on a spending diet for two years and they are now ready to splurge a little.
2. BETTER MARCH WEATHER IN MUCH OF THE COUNTRY – Many parts of the country experienced better weather than usual putting the consumer in the mood to shop.  Retail point of sale systems are finally beginning to wake up from a long sleep.
3. EARLY EASTER – Easter came earlier than usual this year so much of the Easter shopping was done in March.

Now let’s get out the worry machine.  The media are predicting very short lines at point of sale in April because everyone did their shopping in March.  If retail sales happen to fall below expectations in April, the media will rejoice in an “I told you so” moment.  Like golf, the state of the economy is deeply affected by psychology.  Although sound fundamental principles are necessary in both golf and the economy, if you approach either with a negative attitude, success is doubtful.  
We are beginning to see more positive trends than “blips” in the overall economy and retail.  There are many indicators that are pointing to economic recovery.  Are we there yet?  Of course not.  But we’re alright, so far…..