49 Quotes by Stuart Hoffman

We've heard some disappointing reports about the final couple of weeks before the holidays, so we won't see as big of an increase in December, ... but when you combine November and December, this is about the best holiday season we've seen since 1999.

The results show a stable outlook among business owners for their own sales and profits during the next six months, which suggests they are adapting to higher energy prices and interest rates. Many, however, are taking aggressive steps to counter continued increases in costs for employees' health care coverage, which could mean reductions in benefits for some employees.

There will be some uncertainty in the markets building up at the end of the year. There will be some jitters.

The stock and bond markets are looking at the report and seeing the signs of strength, and they know the Fed is doing the same.

People's wages are going up, but they are not keeping up with inflation.

People drew some comfort in the smaller-than-expected core index, but I think the core is a bit deceptive.

The NABE panel sees the economy roaring back in early 2006 following the fourth quarter's tepid 1.1 percent growth.

An unemployment rate below 5 percent is a sign that the job market is getting tight. These kinds of job and wage numbers will keep consumers spending right into spring.

The bottom line is that Greenspan is in no way signaling that the Fed's tightening ballgame against inflation is nearly over.