Although this came out a couple weeks ago, it is appropriate for today.  Apparently rising food and gas prices, stagnant incomes, and unemployment are threatening the very American way of life.  This could potentially disrupt production in China and disrupt the supply chain for future garage sales. (emphasis mine)

Consumers Say Recession Changed Way They Blow Paycheck On Crap

WASHINGTON—A survey released Monday by the U.S. Department of Commerce found the nation’s weakened economy has drastically changed the way consumers blow their paychecks on useless crap.

The report suggests the lingering recession has forced Americans to make tough choices when it comes to pissing away their earnings, as millions struggle to find new, and often challenging, ways to be completely irresponsible with their finances.”The sad truth is we have to keep track of every single penny if we want to be able to spend money on shit we don’t even remotely need,” said Nebraska resident Dennis Schmeltzer, 42. “What am I supposed to do? I’ve got three kids. This family buys a lot of dumb crap, and suddenly we don’t have so much wiggle room when it comes to wasting our money like assholes.””On the one hand, it kills me to go another month without winged-skull seat covers for our Suburban, but on the other, I can’t bear the thought of my kids opening the kitchen cupboard and finding only three or four different kinds of Doritos,” Schmeltzer added. “But right now we just can’t have both. It’s a nightmare.” 

The economy’s sluggish recovery appears to have altered consumer overspending habits in a manner not seen for decades. Sixty-three percent of survey respondents said they were “significantly more reluctant” to squander their income on massaging bath pillows, prepackaged apple slices, motion-activated candy dispensers, devices that make it easier to crack eggs, and just about anything with a fucking Ed Hardy design plastered on it. Another 18 percent said they decided not to buy any more trampolines for at least six months.

With fuel prices rising and the cost of food at an all-time high, experts have said Americans have far less cash to recklessly fritter away. However, many have reportedly managed to continue splurging on stupid shit by finding ways to make their wasted dollars go further.

…read more at the source