S&P 1500

I know the world isn't quite back to it's happy economic self on all fronts, but it's pretty amazing to see the S&P hit 1500 even with the trouble in Europe and unemployment being what it is. American business is robust.

mazdeuce wrote: American business is robust.

Where? The sub 25 employee bizness's are hurting.... And their future is numbered.

Ranger50 wrote:

mazdeuce wrote: American business is robust.

Where? The sub 25 employee bizness's are hurting.... And their future is numbered.

And the businesses with just over 50 employees is rapidly downsizing.

2013 is the year of implementation as businesses try to get compliant for all the new 2014 rules, regs & laws.

But I agree, it's nice to see it there.

Housing sales are at multi year highs. Car sales are at multi year highs. The oil industy is on a tear. There are still some huge huge problems, to be sure, but I'm continually amazed by the resiliency and flexibility of business. I'm also personally extatic that the whole 'buy and hold' thing has worked out. When the S&P was below 700 I wasn't quite so happy every day.

mazdeuce wrote: Housing sales are at multi year highs.

Based upon the low years. It's like saying Nevada is booming because home sales are up 42%. Look at actual numbers and compare them to before the crash and 42% still doesn't put them very far up the charts.

But things are getting better, mostly in people's attitudes. This is something I posted earlier today on our Facebook page. It was mostly based upon an article in Housing Wire.

The housing recovery is beginning to shift from a headwind to a tailwind. This creates the indirect effect of giving average American households to hope to begin regaining a level of wealth.

"The wealth effect is multi-faceted: It is partly due to the psychological lift resulting from higher home values, i.e. the perception of a stronger household balance sheet position actually supports spending," said Deutsche Bank analyst Carl Riccadonna in a note to clients.

However, the wealth effect may also be empowering households to take on more debt in other areas, which means many households may be getting themselves too far in debt.

In other words a more positive attitude promotes people to act more of what we think of as normal and instead of pulling back they are coming out of their shells.

This portends a good 2013 IF we can keep the government from shutting it down with too much and too restrictive legislation.

Come on Congress, get out of the way and let the economy & the people recover!

Around here there's tons of new retail construction. Apparently people with way more money than me think that people with more money than me are ready to spend some money.

Distilling this thread: Guy1: "I'm feeling positive about things."

Guy2: "You're wrong."

Guy3: "You're wrong and here's why."

Guy4: "Miata."