Retail sales drop on a national level

For the first time in five months, retail sales have dropped.

The Commerce Dept. reports Wednesday that retail sales fell .1 percent in July. This is the first drop in retail sales since a .5 percent drop in February. With gas prices at an all time high in July, shoppers say "no" to anything that's not an essential.

The $92 billion in stimulus checks seem to be just a memory. The fragile economy may slow down even more in the second half of the year. On a good note, the all time high gas prices have been falling, hopefully helping consumer spending in the coming months. Economists are still concerned, wondering if gas prices alone will be enough to change the current consumer spending habits.

Susan Taylor-Demming of Naperville, Ill. says, "Play dates instead of water park adventure." Taylor-Demming says her budget this year has meant that she drove to New Jersey with her two daughters instead of taking a flight for a summer vacation.

Tony Fratto, presidential spokesman at the White House, believes that July sales reflect a decline in auto sales caused by high gas prices. Excluding autos, retail sales would actually have increased .4%.

Read the full article at the Washington Post.

STICKER SHOCK: Gas Prices Prompt Pump Prayers

With the cost of gas going nowhere but up, consumers are looking for more and more ways to find relief for their wallets. According to a story in The Washington Post, a group of drivers in the DC area are traveling to gas stations and asking their higher power to bring prices down.

Their organization, known as “Pray at the Pump,” holds and organizes prayer sessions at gas stations around the country.

When critics mention that prices have yet to move in the right direction, Rocky Twyman, the group’s leader, has an answer.

"Our pockets are empty, but we're going to hold on to God," Twyman tells the Washington Post. He cautions against expecting any immediate results from the group’s divine requests.

Despite the fact that the average price of gas has gone up about 50 cents since Twyman’s group first began their prayers in April, they’re not discouraged.

It certainly seems like it might take a miracle to get prices back down where they belong.

--Bridget O'Sullivan