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FYI

-- Casual Living, 7/1/2008 12:00:00 AM

Briefly.....

With economic uncertainty and U.S. gas prices at their highest point ever, consumers are curtailing vacations and fun travel in favor of more staycations – good news for casual retailers. It’s a good time to encourage investment in their backyard oasis, something that will be here long after the gas has gone. According to Casual Living’s exclusive 2007 Consumer Buying Trends Survey, several consumers are doing just that — more than one-half of responding households with incomes of $75,000 or more purchased five-piece outdoor dining sets while 44% purchased landscape lighting, 38% bought a firepit/outdoor fireplace and nearly one-fifth obtained lamps.

Unemployment
Seasonally adjusted annual rate

National	2008
	May	5.5%
	April	5.0%

Consumer credit outstanding
Percent change at annual rate
Seasonally adjusted

	2007			2008
	Q2	Q3	Q4^r	Q1^r	Feb.^r	Mar.^r	Apr.^p
r = revised; p = preliminary
Total	5.6%	8.2%	3.9%	5.1%	3.4%	6.2%	4.2%
Revolving	6.8	8.6	8.2	6.8	5.3	7.4	0.4
Nonrevolving	4.9	7.9	1.3	4.1	2.2	5.5	6.5

Covers most short- and intermediate-term credit extended to individuals, excluding loans secured by real estate.

Nonrevolving credit includes automobile loans and all other loans not included in revolving credit, such as loans for mobile homes, education, boats, trailers or vacations. These loans may be secured or unsecured.

Source: Federal Reserve

Housing
Unit Number in Thousands
Seasonally adjusted annual rate

Permits	United States	Northeast	Midwest	South	West
April ’08 numbers are preliminary Source: Bureau of the Census and National Assn. of Realtors
April ’08	978	109	160	493	216
Change from Apr. ’07	-34.3%	-32.7%	-29.2%	-32.9%	-41.0%
Starts
April ’08	1,032	89	158	516	269
Change from Apr. ’07	-30.6%	-45.4%	-23.7%	-29.5%	-30.1%
New home sales
April ’08	526	34	73	289	130
Change from Apr. ’07	-42.0%	-58.0%	-39.7%	-41.7%	-37.8%
Existing home sales
April ’08	4,890	870	1,100	1,920	1,000
Change from Apr. ’07	-17.5%	-14.7%	-19.7%	-18.6%	-15.3%

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FYI

Jul 1, 2008

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