The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current, November 02, 2016, Page 5A, Image 5

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    5A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
THE ELECTION IMPACT
How consumers are reacting in anxious times
By ANNE
D’INNOCENZIO
AP Retail Writer
NEW YORK — Ameri-
cans have been anxious about
the contentious presiden-
tial election, and when they
get fretful, they tend to stop
shopping.
While government reports
show overall spending has
held up, some analysts say
they’re seeing signs that shop-
pers are being cautious. A dip
is normal before an election,
but the question this year is
whether the uncertainty could
drag on after election day and
cut into holiday buying.
Retailers are hoping an
improving job market and
wage gains will get Ameri-
cans in the mood to spend.
“There’s going to be elec-
tion noise,” Target’s CEO
Brian Cornell has said.
“We’ve all looked at it and
talked about it. But we are
entering a holiday season
with a consumer who is feel-
ing good about the state of
play.”
Here’s a look at where
things stand and what could
be ahead after Nov. 8:
Q. What usually hap-
pens before a presidential
election?
A. Shoppers traditionally
pull back ahead of the election
as they become distracted.
“Everywhere you turn —
whether you’re picking up a
newspaper or watching tele-
vision — political advertise-
ments are taking up ad space
that retailers typically use to
get holiday shopping on the
minds of consumers across
the country,” said Matthew
Shay, president and CEO of
the National Retail Federa-
tion, the nation’s largest retail
trade group.
But
buying
usually
bounces back afterward. In
the 2012 and 2004 presiden-
tial elections, year-over-year
sales growth slowed an aver-
age of 22 percent in Septem-
ber and October, from the Jan-
uary through August period,
but rebounded an average
of 16 percent in November
and December, according to
AlixPartners. The consult-
ing group excluded the 2008
presidential election because
the ballooning financial crisis
that led to a precipitous drop
in spending made it an outlier.
Its figures exclude sales of
cars and auto parts and from
gas stations and restaurants
and are based on an analy-
sis of Commerce Department
figures.
Q. What about 2000,
when the Al Gore- George
W. Bush race wasn’t decided
until Dec. 12?
A. Sales didn’t recover
as usual because of unprece-
The most valuable and
respected source of local news,
advertising and information for
our communities.
www.eomediagroup.com
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
A sign advertising a sale is seen posted on a storefront
in Philadelphia. It’s no secret that Americans have been a
bit anxious about the contentious president election be-
tween Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. But while broad-
er government reports say spending is still intact, there’s
been a slowdown. And a cloud of uncertainty could carry
over to after the Election Day that could hurt spending.
dented uncertainty about the
winner through most of the
holiday season, says Noam
Paransky, director of the retail
practice at AlixPartners.
Year-over-year
sales
growth slowed 10.2 percent
in September and October of
that year, from the January
through August period. And
for November and December,
it was 30.4 percent slower
growth. However, retail sales
were still growing through the
period.
Professional
Q:
N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A
Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500
B UY
G ET
Angela Sidlo
Owner
Waves of Change
Wellness Center
No. 1 12th St., Suite. 10
Astoria, OR 97103
503-338-9921
www.AngelaSidlo.com
www.refl exology-works.com
Bumble Bee Brand Book
Flight of the Bumble Bee
for $ 24.95
Special available only at
The Daily Astorian Offi ce
949 Exchange Street | Astoria, OR 97103
or by calling 503-325-3211
Observing Our
Peninsula’s Past
She defi ned it as, “the holistic
therapeutic application of genuine
essential oils for enhancing the
physical, emotional, mental and
spiritual health of the individual.”
Essential oils can be administered
in a variety of ways. Through the
use of bath salts, massage oils,
inhalation, diffusion, foot soaks,
lotions, creams, aromatic spritzers
and salves. Call Angela at Waves
of Change Wellness Center to
create a custom blend specifi c to
your individual needs. Classes are
offered at CCC too.
Q:
FREE!
*while supplies last
JEFFREY M. LEINASSAR
DMD, FAGD
EPIC Book Signing
Friday, November 4th
3:00-5:00
Kenneth M. Ames
Robert T. Boyd
Margo Greeve
Michael E. Haglund
Rebecca Harrison
Tony Johnson
Carol Carruthers Lambert
Arline LaMear
Andrea Larson Perez
Karen Leedom
Gloria Stiger Linkey
Nancy Lloyd
Irene Martin
Nate “The Great” Sandel
Jeffrey Smith
Rex Ziak
Special guest artist –
Bill W. Dodge
Special guest musicians –
Brownsmead Flats
Columbia River
Maritime Museum
Did we mention it’s Free? You’re Welcome.
What makes a
fish Sushi Grade?
is
Q: What
aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy as we know
A:
it today was developed
in part by Marguerite Maury.
Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber
Buy One Get One FREE
Holiday Book Sale
forward. This year may be
different. Republican Donald
Trump, who has railed about a
“rigged” political system, said
in the final presidential debate
that he won’t decide until the
election ends whether he will
accept its results. If Democrat
Hillary Clinton wins, she may
take office amid questions
now that the FBI is looking
further at her emails.
“The potential concerns of
legitimacy of either candidate
can carry over and dampen
spending,” said Perkins.
Q. Given the preva-
lence of political ads in
some areas, what are stores
doing?
A. Both Wal-Mart and Tar-
get say they’ve adjusted their
advertising.
Wal-Mart hasn’t given
many specifics, while Target
says it’s leaning more toward
TV channels like the Food
Network, HGTV and the
Cinema channel. For social
media, it’s focusing on Pin-
terest. The company says it
wants to be smart about where
to focus.
“We don’t want to come
across as tone-deaf to the
conversations that are going
on,” said Rick Gomez, Tar-
get’s senior vice president of
marketing.
Consult
a
W A NTED
*
Q. What’s been the trend
this year?
A. Consumer confidence
has slipped a bit, but spend-
ing generally held up through
September as income gains
and an improving job market
offset some of the uncertainty,
according to the most current
government reports.
Year-over-year growth in
retail sales slowed 19.8 per-
cent in September compared
with the year so far, accord-
ing to an analysis by Alix-
Partners. The government
hasn’t released sales yet for
October. But a report from
the Conference Board said
consumer confidence pulled
back in October, after reach-
ing a 20-month high in Sep-
tember. That dip was in line
with the University of Mich-
igan survey.
A survey by the National
Retail Federation points to
cautious consumers because
of the election uncertainty.
Some shoppers surveyed by
the research group The Retail
Economist and Goldman
Sachs showed the election
was a factor.
And shoppers remain
selective, shifting their spend-
ing more toward items like
cars and appliances, says Ken
Perkins, president of research
firm Retail Metrics LLC.
A clearer picture will
emerge when retailers report
their third-quarter results in
November. “The election is
weighing on consumer psy-
che, and retailers will use it as
an excuse,” Perkins said.
Q. Will there be a
post-election bounce this
year?
A. With the rare excep-
tion of the Bush-Gore con-
test, most elections bring cer-
tainty and the country moved
503/325-0310
1414 MARINE DRIVE,
ASTORIA
www.smileastoria.com
I am interested in
changing the
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 What options are
available to me?
A :
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consultation.
the
Q: Does
Oregon Health
Amanda Cordero
Northwest Wild Products
Fresh Seafood Market
354 Industry St, Astoria
503-791-1907
Daily 9 am- 7 pm
On the docks of the West Mooring
Basin, by the Riverwalk Inn
are good free
Q: What
anti-virus programs?
LEO FINZI
Astorias
Best.com
W e match all on - line
prices for computers ,
printers , etc . s hop
here and enjoy our
service .
M-F 10-6 Sat 12-5
77 11th Street, Suite H
Astoria, OR
503-325-2300
Loop-Jacobsen
Jewelers, Inc.
Plan cover
chiropractic
care?
Yes! The Oregon
A
:
Health
Plan does
ASTORIA cover chiropractic
care with
CHIROPRACT I C
Ba rry S ea rs , D.C .
503 -3 25-3 3 11
2935 M a rin e Drive,
As to ria , Orego n
referral from your primary
care physician.
Call us today for more infor -
mation or to schedule your
appointment.
Now accepting new patients.
Robyn Marty
Adult Outpatient Clinician
“Helping People Live Well”
65 N. Hwy. 101 Ste.204
Warrenton
503-325-5722
No one in crisis will
be turned away.
A :
business, you get up to 10
subscriptions of F-Secure
at no charge. If you have
a Century-Link Business
account, you get up to 10
subscriptions of Norton Anti-
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have Century-Link home, we
recommend AVG anti-virus
Free or Pro. Need help with
installations? Feel free to
call. We’re here to help.
is the
Q: What
Birthstone for
this month you
A : For
have your choice of two
Frank & Judy VanWinkle
A family owned and
operated jewelry
store since 1919
(503) 325-6181
1360 Commercial
Astoria, Oregon
stones Topaz and
Citrine. Topaz is known as
keeper of the flame, it comes
in a sunset of colors, it also
commemorates the 23rd
anniversary. Citrine is the
daughter of Amethyst, it is a
variety of the mineral, quartz.
It is also used for celebrating
the 13th anniversary.
Q: What’s the “donut
hole”? (Part 1 of 3)
The donut hole is a
A:
confusing coverage gap in
problem if the
gambler can afford it?
No, p roblems caused by
excessive gambling are not just
financial. If a person’s gambling is
interfering with the ability to act in
accordance with his or her values, then
there is a problem. For example, too
much time spent on gambling means
less time to spend with family, friends
and others. It can lead to relationship
breakdown and loss of important
friendships. All gambling treatment
services provided by Clatsop
Behavioral Healthcare are free for
anyone that gambles in Oregon, this
includes Washington residents. Family
members’ treatment services are also
free of charge.
you have Charter-
A: If Spectrum
home or
November?
it true that
Q: Is problem
gambling
isn’t really a
CLATSOP
BEHAVIORAL
HEALTHCARE
There is no standard
definition of “Sushi
Grade” fish. It is purely a
marketing term to imply a
higher quality piece of fish.
However, there are actions
that make raw fish safer to
eat. Tuna should be bled
immediately upon catching.
This destroys the neural
canal and quickly reduces
the temperature of the fish.
Salmon and halibut, because
they contain parasites, should
be frozen at -4° F for at least 7
days.
A:
the Part D drug program–but
it’s important to understand.
Medicare
In 2017, the donut hole will
Market Manager come into play only after you
and your drug plan spend
$3,700–the annual “coverage
limit”–on covered prescription
drugs. This means many
people never fall into the
donut hole. Also, you’re never
affected if you’re in the Extra
Help program. I’ll talk more
about the donut hole the next
www.careoregonadvantage.org
two weeks.
Stefanie Cao