Eco-consumption under pressure from economic slowdown and greenwash

The slowing US economy is dragging down several green industries, including demand for green homes, energy-efficient home products and renewable energy, according to Energy Pulse 2007, the third annual national consumer market study conducted by the Shelton Group. For eight different kinds of energy efficient home products, this year’s Energy Pulse survey found that consumers …
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US September employment numbers look good, but aren’t really

The US Labor Department said the US economy added 110,000 new jobs in September, higher than the 100,000 figure predicted by economists. Also, rather than shedding 4,000 jobs in August as initially estimated, 89,000 new jobs were actually created. The government also revised upwards non-farm payroll figures for July, saying 93,000 jobs were created as …
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US housing still on the way down

A useful summary of data points from John Mauldin illustrates that the US housing market is still receding.  This matches the IFC chart showing that sub-prime mortgage problems are not expected to peak till the beginning of the year.  (That chart is in the July Review here.) First the inventory of existing homes rose yet …
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Rise in US consumption for August could be misleading

Although Commerce Department data for August showed a rise in August and a moderation of core inflation, this data should be considered warily as they may be a result of unusual incentives.  Consumer confidence and housing are still down. Consumer spending rose 0.6% in August, the largest increase since April and more than expected.  The …
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US August data modest

Retail sales and industrial output both slowed in the US in August. Shop sales grew 0.3% in August, below market expectations of a 0.5% rise and below July’s 0.5% increase, but excluding car sales, which are at their strongest in two years, retail spending actually declined 0.4% in August. Industrial output rose 0.2%, the slowest …
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US housing slump could raise headline inflation

 This extract from John Mauldin’s Thought’s From The Frontline suggests that the downturn in US housing could be bad for inflation: Indeed, there may be some concerns that the CPI (Consumer Price Index) number could come under pressure from the housing component. Given that home prices are falling, that may be considered odd by many. …
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