Black Friday is over, which is the day after Thanksgiving, and the beginning of the Christmas Sales season. All indications are that Sales are no better than last year. Consumer surveys have found Consumers intend to spend five percent less this year than last. Walmart research indicates Customers are limited to Paycheck to Paycheck spurge purchasing, indicating their credit card debt is maximized.

Retailers have reduced the number of Bargains this year, and are maintain lower Inventories than last year. They still insist they expect a four percent increase of Christmas Sales this year. No Retail or Discount outlet has issued any data on the Price increase of this Year's items over last Year's. Current data coming in could present a dismal decrease from last year's Christmas Sales.

On World News:

United Nations and U.S. surveys both indicate Afghanistan has increased it growth of Poppy for Opium, by an estimated 36 times over the amount grown in the last year of the Taliban. All sources cite Warlords, not under the control of the central government, are growing the Poppies to get funds to purchase weaponry. We can be thankful this Year: We still have significant troops at risk in Afghanistan, and over forty percent of Afghani opium is sold on American streets.  It will be a mellow, if not a merry, Christmas.