Retail store closures and consumerism,defies logic.

We had over 5,400 retail stores close in 2018 and announced through July 2019 we have an additional 7,100 store closures,yet the stock market is crediting consumerism with driving our economy???Online shopping is credited with accounting for at most 16% of total retail sales,something here just does not add up??How we can have thousands of stores closing, with thousands more anticipated,and still claim that the consumer drove the economy.It defies logic??

 

because you don't need to shop at a brick and mortar store to shop anymore.

I'm a big buyer of books and I love regular bookstores and used ones.

But I'm not so blind to see that if I know the name and author of a book I can get almost any book I might want through Amazon now. In fact the only reason I care anything now about regular bookstores is that the huge ones generally have magazines unavailable anywhere else.

 

Yes I am aware, but right now online shopping only accounts for a maximum of 16% of retail sales.

 

A quick check on line says there are about 3.8 million retail outlets in the US. 16% of that is 608,000. I realize that it would not be 16% of the retail stores closing. But that should tell you that it is most likely on-line sales.

It would appear that only 0.14% of the stores have closed. That is a pretty small percent. That is fourteen out of a thousand.

 

Enough have closed and it is continuing unabated for me to question how they can attribute our 2.1% GDP to consumerism.

 

there are three things you have to remember. first is the sheer number of stores that exist in this country. you've given us a number around fifteen-thousand, but that is just a drop in the bucket. from mom and pops to chains to mega-stores, there are millions of existing enterprises. second is that the stores that closed were being underutilized and their customers didn't just disappear. all of that increasing buying power is simply going elsewhere. finally, three are new stores opening every day. though there is undoubtedly a net loss of brick and mortar stores in this country and and even on-line sellers are going under, the number is far less than the amount of stores that have closed.

 

Because total retail sales are going up.

 

Oh you'll used to it! Just like when Mr, Obatards unemployment all of a sudden went way down while 11 million displaces and gave up looking people simply disappeared "POOF"! Ya like that

 

Oh you are WAY off

Please prepare better

 

I'm going by what Bloomberg reported for the percentage of total retail online.

 

Recent spending disclosures driving the increase in consumerism have primarily been in high end stores by the more affluent among according to CNBC.

 

Why do you expect others to research your own info to find out if its actually accurate? Post the links for what you are referencing.

 

In an era of online shopping the shift has been from corporate chained department stores to more unique and specialized shopping. I frequent a local hardware store that specializes in backyard poultry and beekeeping, offering a multitude of classes and special events about my particular interests, as well as a remarkably knowledgeable staff.

Sears and other department stores are collapsing, but brick and mortar retail is still going strong.

I'm 29 and can't see a time where internet retail dominates the market, because there's such a large portion of commerce that depends upon knowledgeable staff and/or immediate need.

 

I've always wondered why more large bookstores haven't gone to POD (print on demand).

 

That's an interesting concept.

I imagine that it would be difficult, based only on royalties and intellectual property rates, to do so.

 

I dont want to print 300 pages of a book.

Tablet reading is preferred over that option, at least for me.

 

GM and Fords recently released auto quarter sales for second quarter show that average sale price have far exceeded affordability for most Americans.Average transaction price for GM in the second quarter was a record $37,126, and Ford was not too far behind with average selling price of $36,400.

 

Answer...........Amazon...........and the rise of on line sales generally at the expense of brick and mortar stores.

 

There are many stores which are marginal and losing 10% of their sales is enough to drive them out of business.

 

It's terrible that aside from wet dreams about impeachment, Democrats' hopeful thinking about sinking the economy isn't enough to sink the market. You should try raising the minimum wage to $15 / hr. Worked for you guys in 2007 - 2008.

 

The information given is not is not sufficent upon which to pass judgement upon anything. Among the info needed What percent of total retail stores is that? If it's less than 16% well then you have your answer. Data suggest that for every 2 retail stores closed 3 more were opened. Also less than a dozen companies accounted for nearly 2/3 of store closings.

 

US ecommerce sales grow 15.0% in 2018
https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/article/us-ecommerce-sales/

 

In a further indication that our economy may not be all Dirty Donald talks it up to be, PIZZA HUT has just announced it will be closing 500 of it's store locations.

 

We got news this week that JCPenney is in danger of being delisted from the stock exchange as it's share price has fallen too low and that high end clothier Barney's is filing bankruptcy.There are very few retailers anywhere in the country that are doing well financially.

 

Sears beginning liquidation sales at 26 of it's Sears and KMart stores this week as part of their bankruptcy settlement.Closures must be completed by October.