This graph shows retail sales since 1992 through May 2014. This is monthly retail sales and food service, seasonally adjusted (total and ex-gasoline). On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 0.3% from April to May (seasonally adjusted), and sales were up 4.3% from May 2013.
The consensus is for retail sales to increase 0.6% in June, and to increase 0.5% ex-autos.
Checkout Argyle’s Summer Blowout Sale. 25% off entire store for the entire month of July! Use the coupon code “summerofargyle” on the shopping cart page to apply the discount. Hurry, the sale ends July 31st.
Student loans are almost impossible to discharge in bankruptcy. Argyle’s Bankruptcy Issues Handbook discusses the current state of the law, which is summarized in this blog post. In short, there is a “hardship” exception, but Courts really only discharge student loans where there is a significant and unexpected disability. This is a problem in today’s economy, where some students incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt with bleak job prospects. These students may be dealing with student debt literally their entire lifetimes. In today’s economy where private schools are so expensive, the prohibition against discharging student loans is a bit anachronistic. But there seems to be some movement towards discussing greater flexibility in discharging student loans. For example, in a recent opinion, the 7th Circuit meaningfully addressed the problem with student loans. Argyle will keep you posted in future blog posts. Also, JD Supra discusses the growing movement to make student loan debt more dischargeable:
http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/bankruptcy-may-become-a-way-out-of-stude-29526/?goback=.gde_98511_member_239301994.
