Post-Memorial Day (Consumer) Tides

"It Was the Best of Times,
It Was the Worst of Times"

Best time to buy airplane tix online?

Tuesday a.m. after Memorial Day weekend, when everyone just finished traveling (and isn't thinking about booking future trips).

Worst time to get a car wash?

Tuesday a.m. after Memorial Day weekend, when everyone who went up to their cabin goes to get their car washed (and the sand vacuumed out of their cars -- a process that I now know from experience takes about 10 minutes per car).

Gas Prices & Memorial Day

Dropping Prices: Two Theories

I put it in the same category as a 50 degree day in January (at least in Minnesota), or the movie theatre with the popular new movie -- and no lines: a welcome development, to be sure, but one that's still slightly unnerving.

What am I referring to?

The rather steep drop in gas prices the last few days in the Twin Cities.

That, just ahead of Memorial Day weekend -- typically a time of peak demand and correspondingly high prices.

Less Pain at the Pump

What's going on?

The rational explanation is that the economy just got bumpier, hurting demand and causing prices to fall.

The political explanation (and what isn't lately)?

The oil producers, led by BP, are in lots of hot water these days, and don't want to raise the temperature further by inflicting more pain at the pump.