Retailers hope confidence boosts holiday sales
BY MARTIN CRUTSINGER
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Personal spend
ing edged up modestly in October,
but retailers are hoping that higher
consumer confidence and lower en
ergy prices will yield bigger gains
during the holiday shopping season.
The Commerce Department re
ported that personal spending rose by
0.2 percent in October, a slowdown
from a 0.5 percent increase in Sep
tember but better than the 0.5 per
cent decrease recorded in August.
Spending for the past three months
has slowed considerably after sizable
gains in June and July as consumers
rushed to take advantage of attractive
discounts that automakers were of
fering to boost car sales.
Incomes were up 0.4 percent in
October after two months in which
that indicator of business health had
been skewed by the impact of the
property destruction caused by hurri
canes Katrina and Rita. Economists
believe an improving jobs picture will
bolster incomes further in the
months ahead and put consumers in
a shopping mood for the holiday sea
son.
In another report, the Labor De
partment said the number of hurri
cane-related job losses totaled just
9,600 last week, down significantly
from the 21,000 storm-related jobless
claims filed the previous week. The
new storm claims pushed the total
number of Americans who have lost
their jobs because of Katrina, Rita
and Wilma to 592,000.
The 9,600 storm claims came out
of an overall total of 320,000 new
claims for unemployment benefits
filed last week, a figure that was
down by 17,000 from the previous
week. This indicates continued im
provements in the labor market.
Economists closely watch the per
formance of consumer spending be
cause it accounts for two-thirds of the
total economy. The small 0.2 percent
gain for October got the fourth quar
ter off to a modest start following
growth at a sizzling rate of 4.3 per
cent in the July-September quarter,
according to a revised estimate of the
gross domestic product released on
Wednesday.
Many economists believe the GDP
growth rate will slow in the October
December period to between 3 per
cent and 4 percent, which would still
be a solid performance, especially in
light of the blows the economy has
taken this year from the destruction
from the Gulf Coast hurricanes and a
surge in energy prices.
An inflation gauge tied to the con
SPENDING, page 15B
Bush tree lighting
focuses on troops
BY JENNIFER LOVEN
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — For the fifth
year in a row, President Bush on
Thursday dedicated the lighting of
the national Christmas tree to U.S.
troops risking their lives far from
home and loved ones.
“We ask for God to watch over
our men and women in uniform
who are serving overseas. Their
families miss them, hold a seat open
for them and pray for their safe re
turn,” Bush said. “Many of them are
serving in distant lands tonight, but
they are close to our hearts.”
A moment later, the president and
his wife, Laura, were aided by three
local girls as they flicked the switch
that illuminated the dazzling white
lights and snowflakes that adorn the
live, 40-foot Colorado blue spruce that
stands permanently on the Ellipse just
south of the White House.
Jackie, Melissa and Jenna Kantor of
nearby Bethesda, Md., were chosen to
assist the president because they start
ed a program called Project Backpack
that assembles bags stuffed with
school supplies for Gulf Coast children
affected by Hurricane Katrina.
“We have a responsibility to help
those in need,” the president said af
ter an hourlong outdoor variety show
of Christmas songs and readings.
“Acts of kindness toward others fulfill
the spirit of the season.”
Though the “Pageant of Peace” at
tended by thousands was festive,
Bush noted soberly that “we approach
Christmas in this time of war.” Bush
has never presided over a tree-lighting
ceremony that has not included men
tions of troops serving overseas in dif
ficult missions, as his first Christmas
as president came not long after the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and
Afghanistan campaign that followed,
and the Iraq war began in 2003.
The tree will remain lighted and
open for public viewing through De
cember, and musical performances
by volunteer choirs and dancers are
scheduled nightly through Dec. 23.
The Bushes went from the Ellipse
to the White House to kick off their
holiday entertaining season. The first
couple welcomed about 500 friends
and supporters to a holiday reception
on the lavishly decorated State Floor
of the White House, press secretary
Scott McClellan said.
Thursday’s party guests were the
first of 9,500 expected to attend al
most nightly White House receptions
through the holidays.
White House decor
more natural' in 2005
BY ELISABETH GOODRIDGE
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The White
House is experimenting with a nontra
ditional Christmas tree decoration this
year — laboratory test tubes.
As part of the “All Things Bright and
Beautiful” theme selected for the 2005
holiday season, first lady Laura Bush
came up with the idea of decorating
Christmas trees with fresh flowers.
That left White House Chief Florist
Nancy Clarke with the problem of
keeping all those roses, lilies and azal
eas properly hydrated.
“One of my suggestions was that we
take a test tube, a regular test tube
from any kind of lab and wrap it with
wire,” Clarke said. “We could fill it up
with water and actually make a Christ
mas ornament and still give our flow
ers a water source.”
It worked, and on Wednesday,
when Bush presented 1600 Pennsylva
nia Avenue’s holiday decorations,
flower-bedecked Christmas trees stood
in the State Floor rooms.
The centerpiece, Bush said, is the of
ficial White House Christmas tree, a 18
1/2-foot Fraser fir adorned white lilies,
crystal ornaments and white Christ
mas lights. The tree is so tall the Blue
Room’s chandelier had to be removed.
“I think it is one of the most beauti
ful Christmas trees I’ve ever seen,”
Bush said.
Wearing a Carolina Herrera two
piece suit — what she called ‘‘her
new red suit” — she also presented
simple one-color bouquets of tulips
that grazed mantels, and boxwood
garlands with gold trim that adorned
mirrors. Wreaths with gold-trimmed
lime sashes hung in windows and
fresh tangerines or pears played
prominent roles in table centerpieces.
Bush said they deliberately took a
simpler approach to the decorations,
holiday cuisine and the official
Christmas card to highlight the ele
gance of the official residence.
“We used natural and real flowers,
fruits and garlands to show how
beautiful nature is,” she said.
The natural theme could be seen
in the holiday food choices as well.
Samples of the cuisine to be served at
upcoming parties included cheese
from Vermont and Minnesota, Vir
ginia ham and traditional fruit cake
and apple cobbler.
Straying from the simplicity, how
ever, was an enormous and elabo
rate gingerbread White House,
made by White House pastry chef
Thaddeus DeBois.
moments
The spirit of the season will surround you
at Valley River Center. More choices under
one roof makes finding the perfect gift
easier for you.
GIVING TREE
Make a magic moment for someone
by participating in the Eugene Active
20/30 Club Giving Tree. Pick up an
ornament' off the tree located near
Guest Services and return an
unwrapped present. Please return
gifts by December 14th.
Mall Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 A.M. to 9 P.M.
Sun 11 A.M to 6 RM.
Mac/'s • Copeland Sports
JCPenney • Merer & Yrani
Just off- Delta Highway
between 1-105 and B.eltiine
541.683.5513
www.ValleyRiverCenter.com
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