CNN: Consumers pinching their pennies

I realize it has been a long while since I posted a financial article, partly because for a while if there was a story it was posted on a good chunk of the personal finance blogs and I did not want to add to the duplication.

Since most of my readers are crafters, they are not seeing that duplication and might care that 64% of Americans plan to cut indulgent spending. That we are shopping the next level down, generally speaking (if you were shopping at Nordstrom, you're now at J C Penney; Kohls > Walmart; Walmart > dollar stores). Also, 50% of consumers plan to cut down on non-essential spending like eating out, going to the movies and remodeling. Still, we are planning to spend money on travel.

Travel spending is forecast to increase a little over 5 percent compared to last year.

Of course it is. I think this year I will stick to my afternoon at the pool vacation!