S&P 500, Christmas, Consumers
The S&P 500 has returned nearly 20% in 2017. If the gains continue, this year will mark the seventh year out of the past nine the market has closed with a double-digit increase. Bloomberg.com, December 8, 2017
“Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell the government what they want and their kids pay for it.” Richard Lamm
Roughly 3.1% of the world’s children live in America, but they own 40% of the toys consumed globally. University of California
UPS expects to deliver 750 million packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, a 5% increase over last year. The company delivered 440 million packages in the same period in 2010. The New York Times, December 10, 2017
Roughly one-fifth of consumer consumption- a total of more than $2.3 trillion- is spent on stuff we don’t need. MarketWatch, Dec 13, 2017
On average, Americans throw away their own body weight in trash every month. The Washington Post, November 21, 2017
It is estimated, to provide the “good” children of the world with one gift each (including all of his expenses from manufacturing to shipping and insurance), Santa’s annual costs total more than $25.3 billion. CNBC, December 10, 2017
