Friday, March 14, 2014

Hello, Genco Bankruptcy Professionals

Just an educated guess that you are in the office tonight.

15 comments:

Stagflationary Mark said...

They might be out getting a snack at Quiznos.

Competition among U.S. restaurants has been increasing as newer fast-casual chains expand quickly.

Restaurant per capita glut?

CP said...

Ha!

More like:

http://www.seamless.com/nyc/

It's for the expense account - not the living off of TIPS interest - set...

;)

Stagflationary Mark said...

CP,

It's for the expense account - not the living off of TIPS interest - set...

Hey! I'll have you know that we had take out pizza just last night!

My grirlfriend took out a $1 frozen Totinos pizza from our garage freezer, cooked it to delicious perfection, and we shared it, lol.

Yeah, you got me. We don't exactly pay people to deliver hot food to our front door. It's probably good that somebody does though, or we'd already be looking at "Great Recession II: Return of the Killer Recession."

That said, I think it's coming soon regardless. Rumor has it that the stock market is forward looking. This past week must have poked it repeatedly to the eyeballs, lol. Sigh.

Gallows humor.

CP said...

Lol!

I'll bet the bankruptcy professionals' bill for office dinners tonight is bigger than your annual food budget.

Stagflationary Mark said...

Retail Trade: Food Services and Drinking Places / Population (Annual Nominal Growth)

Two full years of "bad weather"!

How much more Wall Street lipstick can that pig take before retail investors start to notice again?

Anonymous said...

This is the actual amount per capita, nominal:

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fredgraph.png?g=t6g

No wonder you don't meet many young girls who know how to cook!

Stagflationary Mark said...

CP,

There are two of us. We tend to spend about $6 each per day. We're definitely frugal but not as extremely frugal as last night's meal/snack might indicate, lol.

It certainly helps that I love spaghetti, chicken, rice, potatoes, broccoli, and bananas (to name but a few). Hard to rack up high food bills with that list, especially when bought in bulk and/or on sale.

CP said...

"Man, I just spent a FORTUNE on BANANAS at the grocery store."

Meanwhile, the partner who is quadruple checking the bankruptcy filing paid an extra $10 for the mango sticky rice dessert.

Stagflationary Mark said...

Anonymous,

No wonder you don't meet many young girls who know how to cook!

I'm 49. If I was meeting young girls at my age then some might find it a bit creepy, or at the very least it might tick off my girlfriend, lol. :)

Stagflationary Mark said...

CP,

Meanwhile, the partner who is quadruple checking the bankruptcy filing paid an extra $10 for the mango sticky rice dessert.

ROFLMOA!!

Stagflationary Mark said...

ROFLMAO!!

Oops. I had a DAM moment.

DAM: Mothers Against Dyslexia

Stagflationary Mark said...

Real Restaurant Sales per Capita (Adjusted by CPI: Food Away from Home)

1. Eat our way to prosperity?
2. Looks toppy again.

Here's the annual growth rate chart to go with it.

CP said...

Wow! Thanks for adding that.

So, real restaraunt sales per capita are now lower than they were in 2006 (after peaking at a lower high last year: http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=t6h

And, the rate of change is now negative which hasn't happened since late 2006: http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=t6i

Stagflationary Mark said...

CP,

And, the rate of change is now negative which hasn't happened since late 2006...

On the one hand, I could easily believe (and do believe) that some of the weakness is due to this year's abnormal weather.

On the other hand, I cannot believe that the growth rate falling rather conistently from 5% just two years ago to 0% can be blamed on the weather, nor do I believe the fall is over (short-term weather improving dead cat bounce notwithstanding).

The chart screams that both the business cycle is not dead and that we should not expect the economy to accelerate to the upside from here, although anything is possible when it comes to consumer behavior in an overly complacent world.

Stagflationary Mark said...

S&P 500 Déjà Vu

Ever get the feeling that we've been through this before?