The Council of Shopping Centers released a statement yesterday that they predict holiday spending to increase 3 percent over last year.  This trade group which represents shopping malls said Friday that 'November-December spending should top $250 billion, the highest since the 2007' peak.  This prediction does not include sales at grocery stores, restaurants or gas stations but sales should certainly improve with these businesses also.

  A 3% increase in spending will be major news for the remaining retailers because after all the store closings of the past 2 years they should each grab a larger portion.  If the 3% increase materializes some stores could see 5 to 7% year over year growth.  This is how economic recoveries begin.

Terry Edwards     New & Existing Home Sales

tedwards@sc.rr.com     803 920 5327

http://www.russellandjeffcoat.com/

 

USDA Rural Home Loans Available for Richland County SC
08/25/2011
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The USDA rural home loan program is back! A USDA Guaranteed Loan is a Government insured 100% purchase loan These loans are offered in the rural areas of Richland County and include portions of Hopkins and Irmo Under the terms of the program… more
Revitalizing Columbia’s Main Street
07/25/2011
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Columbia SC I waited a couple of months for the grand opening hoopla to subside and chose a random Sunday afternoon to visit the new Mast General Store to see how business was going. Mast moved into the historic Lourie’s Building at 1601… more
Our National Debt Has Been Growing Since 1790
07/22/2011
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While doing some research on the lingering causes of our National Debt I found out the Bureau of the Public Debt announced last week that it will no longer issue paper bonds starting next year and is moving to electronic bonds that are automatically… more
Home For Sale 313 Keystone Drive Myers Creek Hopkins SC 29061
07/07/2011
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Home For Sale 313 Keystone Drive Myers Creek Hopkins SC 29061 This former C&C Builders model home in the popular Myers Creek neighborhood of Hopkins is now for sale for only $125, 000! 313 Keystone Drive is located on a cul-de-sac with very… more
Employment Figures Improve Modestly
07/03/2011
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Columbia SC The latest quarterly South Carolina employment data is a mixture of good news/bad news. Unfortunately over 71, 000 employees were laid off by businesses that could not afford to keep them. Another 14, 000 people lost their jobs due to… more
Ford Vehicle Sales Are Booming
07/01/2011
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Ford Vehicle Sales Are Booming Ford says that the company's truck sales had one of its best months in 3 years. June sales for the F-Series trucks were up 7 percent and the Ranger were up 18 percent. Total vehicle sales for June were up roughly 14%… more
Famously Hot Columbia SC Breaks 90 Degrees Every Day in June
07/01/2011
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Famously Hot Columbia SC Breaks 90 Degrees Every Day in June The high temperature in Columbia was 90 degrees or above every day in June, 2011. The city has never before recorded a June without at least one day where the high stayed in the 80s… more
165 Acre Complex Sold in Downtown Columbia SC
06/16/2011
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Columbia SC Real estate developer Bob Hughes has received final approval to purchase the 165 acre State Mental Hospital complex in downtown Columbia. This is one of the largest land sales to ever occur inside the city limits. The State Budget and… more
Columbia's New Downtown Parking Garage
06/09/2011
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COLUMBIA, S. C. Construction will soon begin on a six-story downtown parking garage that will supply an additional 530 parking spaces at the corner of Taylor and Sumter streets A lighted walkway will lead around the corner to Main Street on the… more