Daily News 12/12/14
December 12, 2014
Friday – December 12
The prospect of an improving job market and higher wages, coupled with plunging gas prices at the pump led Consumer Sentiment to near eight year highs this month. The December Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 93.8 in the first of two readings this month, well above the 89.5 expected, and up from the 88.8 recorded in November. Within the report it showed that Americans’ expectations of the economy in six months also rose to its strongest level since January 2007.
The International Energy Agency has forecasted weaker demand for oil in 2015, which is lending fears that global economic growth will weaken. The news has sent world Stock markets lower and the weak sentiment is spilling over to the U.S. equity markets. Plunging oil prices continue to push gas prices at the pump lower as the national average price for a regular gallon of gasoline is at $2.60. An analyst from gas-tracking site GasBuddy said that we can see “at least one station in the nation at $2 by Christmas.”
In a sign that there are still Americans out there that care for those who are less fortunate, Layaway Angels have been popping up around the country. Lee Karchawer has been dubbed “the Jewish Santa” by his mom. Mr. Karchawer has been paying off the layaway plans of strangers during the holiday season. Layaway plans let people pay off their holiday shopping items over a period of time before taking it home. Layaway Angels then swoop in, motivated by the spirit of the season, and pay off the layaway plans of total strangers!
