BAM! The triple whammy is here and the question is how long will it stay? Unlike 2020 and 2021in which both businesses and consumers received trillions in handouts due to COVID related concerns, 2022 will have no handouts. This at the same time as record high inflation over the past 40 years, interest rates set to go up at least three times, unemployment at a record low, consumer confidence at a new low and small businesses especially restaurants and bars struggling to make ends meet. Bottom line to all this: If you are in business, you must survive without handouts or close, the government is no longer interested in financing small businesses. Most interesting is that more restaurants are shutting down now than the previous two years combined. And with Omicron still surging, people are staying home more and once again, supermarkets are running out of the most frequent purchased items. They claim supply chain issues and lack of employees to stock the shelves.
Oil just hit a 7-year high which adds more pressure to inflation. Ports are still congested and container prices have come down a little but still stubbornly high. I was speaking with Tony Cuccio and he asked me when I thought this would reverse. I told him that as long as demand stays strong for goods, inflation will stay with us. Only when consumers stop buying and inventory levels start to pile up will we see a reverse. But when that happens is anyone’s guess.
In chess, there are mistakes, inadequacies, and blunders. Blunders are the worst. How many blunders were on exhibit last week with the wildcard football games? Perhaps the Dallas Cowboys committed one of the worst blunders in football history. Ouch to be a fan.
I finally tested positive for COVID. I only know this because we were going to Puerto Rico for vacation and you had to test negative before going. I had no idea and that is what being asymptomatic is all about. Four days later I tested negative and got out of dodge.
My oldest grandson turns 10 this month. I can’t believe it. Now I get to see what the teenager years are like but this time as a grandfather.
On the new product front, we just received our new ForPro Luxury Towel Warmers. What makes these so fabulous is that when you get out the bathtub or shower, you can luxuriate yourself with a nice hot towel. The bucket holds up to four towels and is great especially this time of the year. They are available in white and our signature blue.
I am also loving our new rechargeable hand-held fans. So cute. Makeup experts know that hand-held fans are a secret to setting makeup. But when you need a little cooling down, these fans work swell.
I bought a new album yesterday and my previous album purchase was Jimmy Buffett’s Life on the Flip Side (I know, shocking). Anyway, I bought Keb Mo’s new album which features his new hit Sunny and Warm (just the way I like it). Interesting story, this Keb Mo character, worth reading about on his website.
Happy Tuesday!
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