Sales also increased 6.6% at gas stations, mostly due to higher prices (not higher consumption).

And therein lies one of our country's intrinsic problems:We are rewarded for 'consumption' rather than 'saving' and/or 'investing'.As Bob Dylan also wrote: "It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall."

The other nice thing about oil is that the upside is huge as the global economy recovers and fuel consumption grows.Chris

To check for water consumption you need to inspect each unit and look for dripping faucets and running toilets.

Uncontrolled" SEC, absurd leverage level raising decisions, rating agencies ratings for sale, bankers looking for bonuses rather than being responsible, and consumption irresponsibility at all levels of our society caused this and nearly put the world into a depression.I watch the upcoming lawsuits versus the rating agencies with interest, but why do I feel they will walk with a symbolic slap?

As a result, the US will import less from Japan, improving our trade balance, and subsequently increasing real GDP = (Consumption + Investment + (Exports - Imports).

We execute a "Utilities Budget Agreement" as an addendum to the lease, which works are follows:1) We identify all the utilities (hydro, gas, water/sewer, cable, etc) and services (snow removal) which are to be governed under the agreement and set an amount which will be paid, in advance, into the budget fund each month by the tenant;2) When the utility bills arrive, we pay them and forward an electronic copy to the tenant so they are aware of their resource consumption.3) Every three months (quarterly) we reconcile the amount paid into the utilities budget against the utilities bills incurred.  

Since the beginning of time, all we really are doing is converting assets from one form to another for the purpose of consumption or wealth creation (i.e. 90% vs 10%).

I do not care if it is a flat percentage out of earnings, or based on consumption.

If fact, the opposite is drilled into people...from TV, radio, social media, advertisements, texts, emails, parents, huge houses, nice cars, smart phones, fast food, slow food, no planning, on the go, buy buy buy...we are inundated with consumption opportunities.