This week we’ve got conversation about synergistic acquisitions, a look at an alternate deal structure, and economic projections – is continued growth on the horizon? Click on an article’s headline to read the full piece. [Read more…]
U.S. Wine Sales, A Leading Economic Indicator, Shows Growth
From time to time I like to update you on key economic indicators. Some of these are standard items like retail sales and employment; others are more obscure. Today’s data would fall into the latter group.
As you know, sales of discretionary items are usually a good indicator of the direction of the economy. These items tend to cycle with economic growth on a consistent basis. When the perception of the public is that good times are ahead, sales of discretionary items tend to go up. Of course, as we saw in 2008 and 2009, the opposite is true as well.
The sale of wine for most consumers would fall into the category of a discretionary purchase, especially higher-end wines. As reported recently in the Los Angeles Times, “After a two-year slump, domestic wine retail sales in 2010 increased and U.S. wine exports jumped 26%. For the first time, the U.S. consumed more wine than France.” [Read more…]