Stocks to watch. Retail Sales Down again

May 13, 2009 April 2009 retail sales were down again same like the previous month. Uncertainty in the market and about the economy put pressure on spending.

Retail down 0.4% compared March according to the Commerce Department Wednesday.

Expectations of an increase of 0.1% were forcasted.

March sales were revised down, decreasing 1.3% instead of 1.2% as previously reported

First quarter GDP by country

Canada: -0.1%

China: +6.1%

France: -1.2%

U.K.: -1.9%

Germany: -3.0%

Japan: -4.2%

U.S. : -6.1%

China 1st quarter will be the lowest for this year. China will have higher GDP than 6%

Other countries' GDP fare much better than U.S. Germany is the worst and only 3.0%, 50% less decline than U.S.

Japan is bad always, that is why I categorize U.S. will be like Japan in the future, but even Japan's 1st qtr GDP will be better than U.S.