European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 19, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                August 1985 the stars and stripes Page 17 something has to give by Steven greenhouse new York times sales at the nations department stores and Auto dealerships have suffered in recent months because of Consumers like Tammy and Daniel last year and the year when things were going Well at Nelsons the Chicago couple purchased several costly including a refrigerator and an this the Nelsons have Cut their purchases because the Metal crafting company where Nelson works has reduced his schedule to four Days a business is slow and were not Rushing out to buy Many Nelson commented the economic slowdown in the manufacturing sector that has crimped the Nelsons budget is Only one of several factors that have caused retail sales to stumble in recent another important problem has been the surge in consumer borrowing consumer instalment debt accounted for percent of personal income in the highest rate Many economists say the level is so onerous that Consumers Are trying to work off some of Consumers have been spending at an extraordinary buying a lot of big ticket items and increasing their debt to help pay for these said Allen chief economist with Shearson Lehman it had to slow Down at some Thomas chief economist for Roebuck the imbalance Between credit growth and income growth has been going on quite a and you have to assume that at some Point something has to instalment credit per capita is up about 20 percent from last but average hourly earnings Are up Only 3 the sobering effect of the debt Swanstrom shows up in the rising level of Auto repossessions and mortgage it is also reflected in the weaker business at Many department store like which reported a decline in sales in june and a drop in second Quarter retail sales across the nation fell percent in May and percent in june their steepest plunge in 11 declines in consumer spending Are normally cause for widespread concern because such spending is such an important part of the Overall accounting for nearly two thirds of the Gross National the effect has been quite muted because of lean inventories and Strong military economists some economists fear that the decline in sales of everything from autos and appliances to furniture and floor Erma Bombeck Wax could increasing the chances of but Many others agree with John director of consumer economics for data resources who contends that it is too Early yet to dismiss personal consumer spending is slowing but it Doest indicate that the consumer is jumping out of this economic he in Many economists predict that the recent decline in interest rates will result in an increase in retail sales later this the rate drop is expected to help the Economy in and interest sensitive such As Auto sales and in Sandra director of consumer economics for Chase for forecasts that retail sales will Rise at a real annual allowing for of percent in the second she predicted that lower interest rates would strengthen sales of furniture and which she said would reflect the increase she foresees in housing Fabian executive director of the conference boards consumer research is also optimistic because his surveys find that consumer Confidence is Consumers Are saying business conditions will that the number of jobs will grow and so will their personal Linden the conference boards consumer Confidence Index Rose four Points in to some slowdown in retail sales is not surprising at this stage of a Many economists the consumer has just run out of said Gary president of a new Yor based economics consulting firm that bears his economists say a slackening in Auto sales was a major reason for the sluggishness in retail according to the Commerce car sales dropped percent in june from from january through Auto sales were running at an astonishingly High at a rate of Over 11 million a said Shaber of Chase that rate was Consumers were Rushing for cars Early this year for two she said the greater availability of lower Price japanese imports As quotas were lifted and the lure of promotional rebates and below Market interest rates offered by the Domestic car when those incentives were phased out in the late Auto sales began to Domestic car sales in the in thousands sold per 10day period total total and others 1984 1985 1984 1985 1984 1985 june 1120 june 2130 july 110 note others Are Nissan Nissan not applicable for 1984 Chicago Tribune graphic source company reports 1984 1985 july 1120 youve All read the famous passage from the gospel of fitness and it came to pass that As More people became conscious of exer millions of them climbed into cars and buses and made their Way to aerobics jogging paths and some boarded planes for spas where they attended a and life was but traffic became unbearable and Tim consuming and spas were expensive and one Day of them decided to grow their own gyms and they plan Ted stationery bicycles in their bathrooms and Muscles came they planted treadmills in the hallways and sweat they planted rowing machines in the carports and harvested healthy and the word fit was made or was it my conversion to Home fitness is not a pretty like the rest of the world i wanted All the gain with absolutely no pain i wanted to Roll out of bed and onto something that moved me before i woke up and realized what i was Bear with me through the agony and Anatomy of a Home Day i trampoline is removed from Box and search is conducted to find out where is the Best place for it has five six legs and is 36 inches since the Point is to exercise without thinking about i put it directly in front of to set in the family room so i can watch David i absolutely love it end of week ii the trampoline is not working out in present every time i walk through family i must walk around this involves eight extra Steps one Way going and one Way coming Multi ply this by about 36 trips a Day and 365 Days a year and were talking week in trampoline has been in Kitchen for Over a week but is not working i tripped Over it three Days ago and have not been Able to work out since there is painful its Black and clashes with am moving it Back to week Viii opened up the Hall closet today and guess what the trampoline almost killed i would use it but i have to drag it out from behind the skis and the card table and by the time i lug it to the Center of the in week Xii dont get me i love the trampoline and its but getting to the attic to use it is a real i have to pull Down the stairs and be very careful not to fall through the parts of the attic that Arent and when i i take my life into my hands As the open beams Are right above month Viii As i told my Friend at the garage i really hate to part with the its like an old but getting dressed and coming out to the garage in the dead of Winter to use it is our family has a history of pulmonary in her kind she offered me the use of it whenever i was in the year i its an eight mile drive to my friends House to use the but its Worth my heart rate escalates and theres a certain discipline about getting up at 6 and doing something wonderful for your in thinking of getting a rowing it would be a lot More los Angeles times Syndicate