The Recovery in Zero Sum terms

The idea is simple: 70% of the U.S. economy is consumer spending.

The question is: On what will the consumer spend that money?

Gasoline to power our vehicles is one big expense. It is said that oil moving beyond 100 dollars per barrel can hamper recovery. Some say $80 per barrel is a danger sign, and that we were able to absorb the earlier (pre collapse) increase by using home equity like a bank account.

So with home equity annihilated, that gives us less of a margin.

$80 a barrel is that threshold according to Steven Kopits, managing director at energy market forecaster Douglas-Westwood in New York.

As of right now (November, Wednesday 18 2009 - 11:27:23) , oil is.....


tick friggin tock.