November Home Sales Soar 7.4 Percent

"Home resales surged last month to the highest level in nearly three years, reflecting an extraordinary level of federal support that has pulled the housing market back from the worst downturn since the Great Depression."

Read more at: The Associated Press

That's change I can believe in.

Good News of the Day

"PRINCETON, NJ -- The average amount of money Americans predict they will spend on Christmas gifts this season is now $743, up from last month's estimate and a healthy increase over Americans' Christmas spending forecast at this time a year ago.

...

The $743 Americans now predict they will spend on gifts this season is a substantial increase over the $639 they reported a year ago, and also higher than what they predicted in November of this year. Based on Gallup's model, this should translate into a significant swing in actual holiday retail sales. Instead of the 3.4% decline holiday retailers saw in 2008, they can likely expect a slight improvement in sales this year, on the order of 1%."

Read more at Gallup

Good News of the Day

I'm going to start posting one a day if I find the time since it appears nobody else is interested in doing so.

"The balance has shifted: More states reported declining unemployment in November than posted increases, according to a government report released Friday.

The national unemployment rate improved to 10% last month as joblessness fell in 36 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Labor Department's survey on state unemployment. The rate rose in eight states and held steady in six."

Read more at: 36 States Reporting Declining Unemployment/

Keep Things in Perspective Dems

I'm not asking Progressives to drop their convictions but rallying your peers to not vote in 2010 will have one result, and that is to never see any sort of laws coming out of Congress that remotely resemble something you would want enacted, because Republicans are going to trounce all over the Dems if enthusiasm is crushed beyond repair.

Carry on....

Increases in Consumer Spending According to Gallup

I was looking at Gallup's 14 day rolling averages of consumer spending since they noted this year was down %21 from last year last week and I noticed something that seems promising.



If you look at last December, starting in November, from the lowest spending to when it peaked in January, it went from $74 to $87. That's a 17.5% gain.

So far this year, the increase has gone from a low in November of $63 to its current $72. That's an increase of 14.2% in spending so far and we aren't even done with Christmas spending so far.

We'll know in a few weeks if spending increased at a greater pace than last year during the same period.

(Updated December 19)

This years spending peaked a little later. Last year we peaked on December 5th. This years peaked on December 13th. We went from a low of $63 mid November at the start of the increase to a high of $79 dollar on the 14 day average on Gallup. That's a gain of of 25.3% in spending. The three day averages seem to be spiking less during this Holiday season as compared to last year. Lastly, last year the U.S. peaked at $87 and this year we peaked at $79 on the 14 day average. This means at peak time spending, there was only a 9% drop in peak spending compared to the 21% previously reported by Gallup as I noted at the top of this post.

A Message From our Troops in Afghanistan

Back in early October, Spencer Ackerman from his blog had linked to this blog requesting supplies for the soldiers who's forward operating base was destroyed during a twelve hour intense firefight with Taliban forces on the bordering region with Pakistan. Because of the quick response generated and due to people like Spencer Ackermann and others pointing to the blog, the troops were able to quickly resupply themselves with the goods they need to get back out there and finish the job they signed up to do.

I thought I'd share the letter of appreciation so others that may have played a part could read it.

Dear Black Knight Troop Supporters,

On behalf of the Black Knight FRG, 3-61 Cavalry, we want to thank you for your generous donation. Your support provides great strength for our soldiers in Afghanistan and the families back home.

October 3, 2009 is a day that we will never forget. The attack on Combat Outpost (COP) Keating and Observation Post (OP) Fritsche was a hard-fought battle and has changed the lives of so many of our soldiers and their families. We will always remember the lives of SGT Joshua Kirk, SGT Justin Gallegos, SGT Joshua Hardt, SPC Michael Scusa, SPC Christopher Griffin, SPC Stephan Mace, PFC Kevin Thomson, and SGT Vernon Martin. Their service to our country and their sacrifices will never be forgotten.

Each soldier in Black Knight troop is a true American hero. As the soldiers were focused on surviving during more than 12 hours of intense combat, more than 70% of their buildings caught fire. As you know, many lost everything they had. Please know that your donations and quick response helped our soldiers get back on their feet quickly. They are strong soldiers who have become closer through this very challenging time.

Your support has given all the families back home peace of mind that their soldiers are being very well taken care of. We appreciate your kindness and generosity. Thank you for your patriotism and support to Black Knight Troop, 3-61 CAV.

Sincerely,
Black Knight FRG