The question is not whether the consumer is slowing. From the Fed's perspective, it's whether the consumer is slowing down fast enough to keep inflation in check,

We have seen a softer tone in their write-ups. I think there is a real sense that the Fed is going to stay on the sidelines.

The longer this goes on ... the more closely it resembles the inflationary push that we saw in the latter part of the 1960s.

Not only are retailers doing more with less, like every other large corporation, and taking advantage of six fewer days in the shopping season, but they are actually hiring less this holiday shopping season, so there's fewer people on the floors actually helping consumers out.

He has faced many different kinds of economic environments. He has thrown away any kind of rule of thumb.

There's no question that the Detroit-based automotive sector has become our region's Achilles' heel.