posted on October 3, 2010 06:05:45 PM new
real world out there,BTW I live right outside Houston-
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By MIGUEL BUSTILLO
HOUSTON—At midnight on the first of the month, a scene unfolds at many Wal-Mart Stores Inc. sites that underscores the deep financial strains that many low-income American consumers still face.
Parking lots come to life after 11 p.m. as customers start to stream into the stores, cramming their shopping carts full of milk, infant formula and other necessities.
Then at midnight, when the government replenishes their electronic-benefit accounts with their monthly allotments of food stamps, nutritional grants for mothers with babies or other aid for needy families, they head for the registers.
"We're not starving or anything, but we come every month at 11:55," said Tyrel Fogle, 26 years old, early Friday morning as he loaded a cart with frozen food at a Wal-Mart here on the northwestern edge of the nation's fourth largest city.
Related
Retailers Try to Pass Along Higher Costs Mr. Fogle said he had just found work as a washer at a glass company after months of fruitless searching. "We have enough to survive," volunteered his pregnant girlfriend, Brittany Cummings, 21. "But not much more."
The midnight scenes, which also play out at Kroger Co., the nation's largest supermarket chain, and other 24-hour stores, indicate that many Americans are still living from pay period to pay period, unemployed or underemployed two years after the recession took hold.
America Shops: U.S. Retail Sales
Since the start of the recession in 2007, U.S. consumer spending has taken a hit. Track monthly estimates by category.
View Interactive
More photos and interactive graphics "If you really think about it, the only reason someone gets out there in the middle of the night and buys baby formula is that they need it, and they have been waiting for it," Bill Simon, the head of Wal-Mart's U.S. store business, said at a Goldman Sachs conference last month.
Wal-Mart executives have cited the midnight rush for the past year as evidence that stressed consumers are stretching the limits of the "paycheck cycle." The company hasn't disclosed exact figures, but it says purchases made with electronic-benefits cards have surged in the past two years.
Participation in the federal food-stamp program swelled from 26 million Americans in 2007 to more than 33 million last year, and it continues to surge. As of June, the latest figures available, more than 41.2 million people were receiving monthly assistance, which averaged $133.36 a person.
Similarly, the U.S. Agriculture Department's supplemental nutrition grant program for women, infants and children, known as WIC, saw participation grow beyond 9.3 million last year, up from 8.7 million two years ago, government figures show.
Many customers in the Houston Wal-Mart during the wee hours Friday were young mothers whose WIC money had just kicked in on their Texas Lone Star benefits cards.
Midnight Shoppers
View Slideshow
Michael Stravato for The Wall Street Journal
More photos and interactive graphics "The real troubling part to us is why [they are] out shopping at that hour," Dave Dillon, chief executive of Kroger, said in an interview, adding that the supermarket giant adjusted its shelf-stocking patterns after witnessing the same phenomenon as Wal-Mart. "We clearly see an increase," he said.
Wal-Mart declined to disclose details, but it has also responded to the early-morning spike on the first of the month. It increases staffing and ensures that its shelves are stocked with the necessities customers are seeking, a spokesman said, though he stressed that the number of shoppers involved at midnight is relatively minor compared with peak periods such as weekends.
"We know our customers are living paycheck to paycheck as they continue to struggle as a result of the economy," said Wal-Mart spokesman Lorenzo Lopez.
Government assistance helps Ieshia Parker, a 26-year-old single mother who was filling her cart with Cream of Wheat cereal and Gerber's baby food, provide for her nine-month-old daughter, Treasure.
She said her hours as a customer-service representative at a call-in center were recently reduced to about six a week. "Nothing for me, all for her," she added as she hunted through the baby-food jars. "When it comes to stuff she needs, I can't wait."
For Pedro Yanez, a 25-year-old beer deliveryman at a nearby Anheuser Busch plant, the aid helps him feed his wife and two children on wages of $10.85 an hour.
"It's been a long time since I got a raise or cost of living [increase]," said Mr. Yanez as his three-year-old son, Jayson, sitting in the cart in a Spiderman t-shirt, volunteered that he wanted a Halloween mask.
For Nakeisha Kaine, 18, who is helping her mother raise her teenage brother Sirterryon, food stamps are putting meals on the table as she pursues her education in cosmetology.
"We come early, because sometimes it's too many people and you gotta wait in line," she said as she and her brother pushed carts filled with frozen food and snacks. Sirterryon, a seventh grader, had school in the morning, but they came at midnight anyway, hoping to beat the crowds.
Then, two hours later, the rush was over, and the Wal-Mart parking lot was once again relatively deserted on a humid Houston night.
—Timothy W. Martin contributed to this article.
Write to Miguel Bustillo at [email protected]
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 3, 2010 07:28:40 PM new
Just ungrateful wretches that don't realize the recession is over. They probably areen't even thankful for Obama continued search for rich people on their behalf.
posted on October 3, 2010 07:50:54 PM new
I lived in New Orleans for almost ten years ,I lived in the city and walked everywhere.
Sometimes I will take a bus downtown and one day I saw a group of 'girls' getting off the bus,each carrying a baby!
Now I am not good at judging how old kids are,but these girls cant be more than 8 or 9 years old,but they have small breasts and nail polish and these look like their babies!
Okay,how can 9 years old become mother?
So I adjusted their age upward to 10-11,but thats a far stretch and they have a hard time carrying a heavy baby ?
There must be 5 of them,you know girls mature much faster these days ,is that possible>To conceive at 9 years old? or conceive at 8 and give birth at 9 years old?
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 3, 2010 08:11:01 PM new
Girls in America are maturing earlier and earlier--some as young as 8--mostly due to the hormones in meat. It's terrible. They mature early before they can even make good decisions about boys or men around them. If I had young children now, I'd buy meat only at the health food store.
posted on October 4, 2010 08:39:38 AM new
I think adult women are also getting too much hormone,their own,birth control pills and hormone from meat and milk or any dairy products.
I have never seen so many overweight women in my life?heavy upper arms,thighs and breasts.
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 4, 2010 09:04:42 AM new
meat hormones = government deregulation in the agriculture business. another example of selling out to big corporations.
posted on October 4, 2010 10:14:54 AM new"Growth Hormones in Food"
"There is another school of thought which advocates that using growth hormones is environmentally friendly and reduces greenhouse gases. They argue that by using growth hormones we can produce more milk using less land, feedstock, nutrients, greenhouse gases, excretion -- translating into all round positive impact on the environment."[1] The same holds true for beef also, growth hormone supporters add."
Of course there are pros and cons - now that the pro has been stated - read the con.
posted on October 4, 2010 10:30:23 AM new
I was reading that many of the new electees coming to Congress want to call for an impeachment. What is wrong with these loons?? We are in an economic crisis the likes of which hasn't been seem in decades and instead of doing anything, they're going for more distractions.
I was reading an analysis on Hyper inflation and one of the very scary things is you can predict it will happen but not exactly when and when it starts, you can't stop it. Obama and the boys are printing money like crazy. One day the Arabs say they won't take dollars for oil, the next day the Chinese say pay for your imports with Euros and the day after that you have double and triple digit inflation.
posted on October 4, 2010 11:36:53 AM newI was reading that many of the new electees coming to Congress want to call for an impeachment. What is wrong with these loons??
As if it's a done deal already. Which one of them is a "new electee"? Will you still vote for these "loons"?
posted on October 4, 2010 11:53:49 AM new
But, Bill, more milk and reduced costs to producers and (slight) decrease in environmental impact--is that worth the result of too much hormone in girls' and women's bodies? Really? Do you have a wife and/or daughters?
posted on October 4, 2010 12:15:05 PM new
This is what I have trouble with. There are times that my written communication is not what it should be (still not firing on all cylinders).
For no particular reason, I presented the pro side that I had read. The thought was that everyone would them read the article and not agree with the pro - then there might be discussion.
Do I agree with the use of hormones in our food supply? No, I do not. In fact, I now intend to lessen consumption of meat and dairy products in our household. I've been so busy with my business, that any thought of food additives never entered my mind.
I wonder - is the weight problem we have in America, a result of hormones in the feed supply?
posted on October 4, 2010 03:14:01 PM new
I think some of that weight problem is coming from growth hormone,it is not just meant,it is soybean and scallops.
I see scallop the size of a sand dollar,and all the soybeans look so perfect and plump.
But we also overeat,and we eat sweet things,high calorie food such as fries and apple turnover along with milkshake and burger for lunch,how many calories is there?
Do the European still have bread,cream soup and a glass of red wine for lunch?or are they like us now?
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 4, 2010 03:58:14 PM new
Bill: If you buy your milk and meat from a health-food store, you don't need to worry about hormones.
Hwahwa: We could all benefit from eating the European style, as you describe. It's also the way Andes Indians and others eat. The portion size in U.S. restaurants is disgraceful; if I order, say, a pasta dish, I eat 1/3 of it and bring the rest home for a main course my husband and I can both enjoy.
posted on October 4, 2010 11:39:08 PM new
Interesting information about the hormones.
The Europeans also walk almost everywhere instead of driving.
North Americans drive and find the closest parking spot next to a Fast Food Restaurant or the Local 'All you can eat Buffet' that they can find. Then they roll out of the Buffet and drive home and lay on the couch then they get up and go to bed.
I agree about portion sizes, when we are on vacation I usually ask if they have a Senior Menu or I order a Side Orders of something and try to include a Fruit Salad. I have a small appetite and if a HUGE plate of food is put in front of me it just turns me off.
posted on October 5, 2010 08:24:28 AM new
two things to note:
Re the article: How many people that work at Wal Mart are also in line with their government assistance debit cards?
Second, I think the link to weight gain is a combination of several factors:
- growth hormones
- increased use of high fructose corn syrup
- hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils.
- cheap fast food that is filled with all of these things.
- the "veal fattening pen" syndrome of the office environment. People used to do more physical work, but now we just sit in cubicles, answer phone calls, type and munch on funions and drink 32 oz coke all day.
posted on October 5, 2010 08:29:10 AM new
otter- you've been to my store here in Portland. we recently moved to another area where parking is much easier.
i have had many people tell me, "i always wanted to go to your store in hollywood, but we could never find parking."
this really infuriates me because I worked there for 5 years and I rarely had a problem finding a parking spot within 1/2 block from our store. The only real time I had an issue with parking was when I had a van full of furniture and needed a closer location to unload.
The last woman who said that was sipping a giant 32 oz coke from the McDonalds behind our new store.
Americans have become WAY TOO LAZY. Myself included.
posted on October 5, 2010 09:22:01 AM new
[quote]link to weight gain is a combination of several factors:
- increased use of high fructose corn syrup
- hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils.
- cheap fast food that is filled with all of these things.
- the "veal fattening pen" syndrome of the office environment. People used to do more physical work, but now we just sit in cubicles, answer phone calls, type and munch on funions and drink 32 oz coke all day.[/quote]
Actually the problem is people putting all of the above in their mouths. (Except maybe the use of growth hormones, which has not been studied other than the FDA trials)
While the ultimate liberal fantasy is to separate people from their actions, this ultimately leads to liberal angst: Make "cheap" food expensive or spend a few bil on "education".
posted on October 5, 2010 09:55:08 AM new
"As if it's a done deal already."
I do not suffer from the same separation from reality that liberals do.
I would look at the current office holder and if he supported the present regime's fiscal policies in any way, I would vote for the opponent in a second.
posted on October 5, 2010 12:42:26 PM new
Good list, desquirrel. And here's one last item:
Eating between meals! Walking around on the streets, eating. Eating while watching TV and movies. The French don't do this and consider it gauche. We need the willpower to eat regular meals and to stay away from drink machines and the kitchen in between.
posted on October 5, 2010 05:18:04 PM new
actually, i posted that list above... desquirrel is too busy bashing "liberals" when that has absolutely nothing to do with the problem.
banning unhealthy processed ingredients is a major step in the right direction. we have banned plenty of chemicals and in essence that is exactly what is being used to alter our food. who do you think does the research for these additives??? it is chemists who create them, they create artificial flavors, odors, etc.
there should be a surgeon general warning on the side of foods that contain anything on the list... and then some.
apparently, desquirrel somehow thinks this is obama's fault. it has been an issue for decades. next he'll blame clinton.
posted on October 5, 2010 05:34:41 PM new
We also eat too much,back in the old days people dont worry about chlorestral,have an egg,it is good protein and fat and we need that.
lard is needed too,I have seeen people mix lard with their rice to get some fat.
Few people get to overeat,as food is scarce and food is expensive,and a glass of wine with your meal?It is something people see in movies or wedding banquets!
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 5, 2010 05:41:21 PM new
It's the old moronic "chemicals in the food" nonsense like rolling eyes when taking an ascorbic acid tablet instead of eating half a dozen oranges. "Natural" can be just as stupid as anything else.
And "liberals" enter into it because it is another "we have to make them do it for their own good" issue. I don't care if somebody wants to eat potato chips and Big Macs all day long and feed his kids the same. It's his responsibility.
posted on October 5, 2010 09:18:45 PM new
"I don't care if somebody wants to eat potato chips and Big Macs all day long and feed his kids the same. It's his responsibility."
But, Squirrel, the premature illnesses and conditions that rise from that irresponsible eating get paid for by all of us in increased insurance costs, etc. I feel the same way about smokers and alcoholics; we all pay, finally, for their carelessness.
posted on October 6, 2010 04:24:51 AM new
There are more diabetics at younger age,drinking soda all day instead of water,ordering a pizza for dinner and lunch instead of a balanced meal.
One woman who teaches safe driving has 3 daughters,they never cook and order pizza every night.
If they dont call,the pizza place will call them and ask,What happens?Is there something wrong?
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on October 14, 2010 08:58:33 PM new
It's now perfectly acceptable to demonize smokers, and rightly so. Their smoke in public is a nuisance at least and a health hazard to others at worst. I say it's high time we demonize fat people in the same manner. They want to eat greasy, sugary garbage and sit on their fat backsides all day, so be it. That doesn't mean the rest of us should be responsible for subsidizing their contribution to the high cost of health care, lolling behind their motorized scooters in the grocery store and sucking in our breath on airplanes to make room for them. Obesity isn't a disease in any classical sense, it's a lifestyle choice. A choice others are forced to help pay for. Enough is enough. Air travel prices should be based on weight, and people who fall within NIH healthy weight limits ought to get a discount on health insurance. That'd be a good start.
[ edited by profe51 on Oct 14, 2010 09:01 PM ]
posted on October 14, 2010 10:29:43 PM new
The old liberal "do it for their own good".
Like the rest, the codicil "as determined by us" has to be added.
We spend billions on AIDS research and treatment. This is because it targets a pet group. We use "think speak" to transform a deviant mental aberration into an "alternate lifestyle" and spend massive amounts in treatment, when major causes are also self inflicted.
We "treat" drug addicts even to supplying them with drugs and paraphernalia.
That's a real problem with the "as determined by us" group. The amazing thing about this group as they have no problem determining these things. They have no trouble determining what various people are entitled to, and have no problem with the mathematics of determining everybody's "fair share".
posted on October 14, 2010 10:48:03 PM new
I was glad to hear recently that the food stamp program may eliminate soft drinks as eligible for purchase. I feel strongly that someone on food stamps needs better nutrition than that empty-calorie junk. And, yes, we taxpayers will pay for their health care down the road.
posted on October 16, 2010 08:35:39 AM new
I can understand food items that are demonstrably part of the legitimate nutrition pyramid being eligible for food stamps, but not soda, candy etc. In the same way tobacco and alcohol aren't eligible, non nutritionally essential items shouldn't be subsidized either.
