Spartan
Golf Shirt
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Why is 1% such a big deal?
« on: December 04, 2008, 08:46:03 AM » |
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Retail sales were down 0.9% in October, 1% in November. It doesn't seem like much compared to all the gloom and doom about retail sales. I understand that negative growth isn't a good thing but for all the talk about consumers cutting back, they still spent 99% of what they spent a year ago. My company would have loved to have 99% of last year's sales in November.
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MFAWG
Rich Corinthian Leather Jacket
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Re: Why is 1% such a big deal?
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2008, 10:45:44 AM » |
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Because it's shrinkage, or as I heard it referred to by Dana Perino 'Negative Growth'...
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The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life. -- Teddy Roosevelt
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Blader
Straitjacket
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Offlinevagazzling vajayjays since 1876!!
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Re: Why is 1% such a big deal?
« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2008, 11:20:34 AM » |
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It is all about scale
Because 1% of gigantic number is still an extremely large number.
I sort of deal with barely perceptible yet significant effects on a daily basis.
For example, massive research studies involving representative samples comprising hundreds of thousands of women repeatedly show the existence of a fraction of a percent positive effect of hormone replacement therapy in women on breast cancer development.
Big deal by itself, not really, because you are talking about a few thousand cases, right?
Wrong
Extrapolation of that frequency out to an entire population comprising hundreds of millions of women world wide who are potential HRT candidates--and the calculations reveal a staggering number of additional cancers, even though the chances of any single individual being affected are so extremely remote, it can be difficult to measure.
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Aske
Lederhosen
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Re: Why is 1% such a big deal?
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2008, 11:54:23 AM » |
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Because as you can see here, you can choose to either maintain the same profit margin, or the same net profits... and to do so requires cutting costs, or raising prices, or both. Cutting costs typically means eliminating employees... and if those same employees are in your customer base, then you are self-cannibalizing. Raising prices will not encouraged more sales either in a recession of course.
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Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century. -- Chimpy McFlightsuit, CEO of Bu$hco Industries of 'Merka
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MFAWG
Rich Corinthian Leather Jacket
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Re: Why is 1% such a big deal?
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2008, 01:02:14 PM » |
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The other thing is it's not really a 1 pct drop, it's a 4 or 5 pct drop depending on what the rate of inflation is.
Bottom line is it's bad news.
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The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life. -- Teddy Roosevelt
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
OfflineWe're doomed!
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Re: Why is 1% such a big deal?
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2008, 02:10:05 PM » |
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Aske
Lederhosen
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Re: Why is 1% such a big deal?
« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2008, 02:12:04 PM » |
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Can't believe I wasted all that time making that spreadsheet
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Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century. -- Chimpy McFlightsuit, CEO of Bu$hco Industries of 'Merka
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
OfflineWe're doomed!
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Re: Why is 1% such a big deal?
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2008, 02:20:43 PM » |
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Can't believe I wasted all that time making that spreadsheet I couldn't see it. Might be a work thing. They have finally started clamping down. Restricting sites, etc.
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Aske
Lederhosen
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Re: Why is 1% such a big deal?
« Reply #8 on: December 04, 2008, 02:21:58 PM » |
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Can't believe I wasted all that time making that spreadsheet I couldn't see it. Might be a work thing. They have finally started clamping down. Restricting sites, etc. Time to set up an ssl vpn then (j/k)
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Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century. -- Chimpy McFlightsuit, CEO of Bu$hco Industries of 'Merka
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stroh
Sleeveless Hoodie From: Impact Crater Springs, CA
Karma: 155 Posts: 16135
OfflineWe're doomed!
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Re: Why is 1% such a big deal?
« Reply #9 on: December 04, 2008, 02:22:54 PM » |
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Or at least spring for the ATT card for the laptop.
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Aske
Lederhosen
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Re: Why is 1% such a big deal?
« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2008, 02:24:47 PM » |
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Or at least spring for the ATT card for the laptop. more logical (and legal)
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Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century. -- Chimpy McFlightsuit, CEO of Bu$hco Industries of 'Merka
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