I still think high energy prices are a big reason for the economic malaise.
When holiday travel is over, the typical American household will have spent about $4,155 filling up this year, a record. That is 8.4 percent of what the median family takes in, the highest share since 1981.
Gas averaged more than $3.50 a gallon this year, another unfortunate record.
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That is a big dent in folks' disposable income.