Economy crashes in March due to Wuhan lockdowns
Never let a crisis go to waste: Retail sales in March dropped a record 8.7%, almost entirely due to the nationwide lock downs and business closures imposed by the government on what government officials have arbitrarily determined are “nonessential” businesses.
The Census Bureau said though “many businesses are operating on a limited capacity or have ceased operations completely,” it had “determined estimates in this release meet publication standards.”
Last month’s decrease in retail sales reflected depressed receipts at car dealerships, with light vehicle sales crashing in March. With millions at home and crude oil prices collapsing amid worries of a deep global recession, gasoline prices have dropped, which weighed on sales at service stations in March.
In addition, the closure of non-essential retailers knocked sales at clothing, sporting goods and furniture stores.
There were also steep declines in receipts at restaurants and bars, which stopped in-person service and moved to take-out and delivery service. Though some businesses, including restaurants, have shifted to online sales, the volumes were insufficient to close the gap from social distancing measures. [emphasis mine]
I wonder if the families that run these “non-essential retailers” consider their livelihoods to be “non-essential.” Somehow I don’t think so.
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Never let a crisis go to waste: Retail sales in March dropped a record 8.7%, almost entirely due to the nationwide lock downs and business closures imposed by the government on what government officials have arbitrarily determined are “nonessential” businesses.
The Census Bureau said though “many businesses are operating on a limited capacity or have ceased operations completely,” it had “determined estimates in this release meet publication standards.”
Last month’s decrease in retail sales reflected depressed receipts at car dealerships, with light vehicle sales crashing in March. With millions at home and crude oil prices collapsing amid worries of a deep global recession, gasoline prices have dropped, which weighed on sales at service stations in March.
In addition, the closure of non-essential retailers knocked sales at clothing, sporting goods and furniture stores.
There were also steep declines in receipts at restaurants and bars, which stopped in-person service and moved to take-out and delivery service. Though some businesses, including restaurants, have shifted to online sales, the volumes were insufficient to close the gap from social distancing measures. [emphasis mine]
I wonder if the families that run these “non-essential retailers” consider their livelihoods to be “non-essential.” Somehow I don’t think so.
Readers!
Every February I run a fund-raising drive during my birthday month. This year I celebrate my 72nd birthday, and hope and plan to continue writing and posting on Behind the Black for as long as I am able.
I hope my readers will support this effort. As I did in my November fund-raising drive, I am offering autographed copies of my books for large donations. Donate $250 and you can have a choice of the hardback of either Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8 or Conscious Choice: The origins of slavery in America and why it matters today and for our future in outer space. Donate $200 and you can get an autographed paperback copy of either.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
This virus / contagion “Opportunity” is beginning to remind me of the “Good soldier”, Lois Learner and the likes of, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Brennan and all of the rest of the inside players in government, and that includes partisan mayors and governors.
Having the power as they do and being partisan, just like the media, they can effect certain hurdles in the name of “Safety” and “Saving lives”. And as we all know we all should kill ourselves in the name of saving one life.
The vehicle in the form of this Chinese bat soup virus now exists to dull and even destroy with a purpose an economy that if not altered as it has been the president would without effort be reelected.
They all have the plausible deniability with this virus to “Do what must be done”, and whom ever’s business is damaged or even destroyed is just a cost of doing the business that must be done “At any cost”.
That’s ridiculous! Nothing at this level of play is ridiculous, and all levels of potentials exist.
No one said that it would be easy, and so it won’t be. We move forward.
One thing I see coming is the same people (read America hating scum) that were over the top criticizing Trump for not preventing the outbreak with more immediate and aggressive measures will be the same people screaming blame and overreach for economic problems caused by those same measures. Media practice of “If it bleeds, it leads” is the major problem with media pandering doctors a seriously close second.
I personally don’t care for Trump. That has nothing to do with this particular set of panic driven reactions. I think he has been a follower of mob trend for the most part in this case. Thinking that he was better than the offered alternative in 2016 is NOT high praise.
2020 economy,
https://youtu.be/-CFTIOQCqTc
“Fear of virus” is the forklift.