Research & Trends: How's The Economy For Retail?

By Lee Holman, IHL Group

Last year at this time, the Cash for Clunkers (C4C) program was winding down, which prompted U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood to declare, "American consumers and workers were the clear winners thanks to the cash for clunkers program." He cited manufacturing plants that added shifts and recalled workers and showrooms that were "brought back to life." He went so far as to state, "This is one of the best economic news stories we've seen, and I'm proud we were able to give consumers a helping hand."