Echoes of 2007

The following chart shows the annual growth rate in retail sales (excluding nonstore retail sales) divided by retail employees (excluding nonstore retail employees). It basically shows brick and mortar retail sales growth per employee. I am not adjusting it for inflation.


Click to enlarge.

The trend lines in blue (artistically placed by me) are exact copies of each other.

If this chart has merit then...

1. Do not expect retail trade hiring sprees from here.
2. The only accelerating this economy will soon be doing is to the downside.

January 24, 2014
Sam's Club laying off 2% of workers

Wal-Mart plans to lay off 2,300 workers at its Sam's Clubs, the company said Friday.

This is not investment advice.

Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart