Under Obama US Becomes A Net Oil Exporter VS A Net Oil Importer

Click Here Or On Above Image To Reach Our Experts

Under Obama US Becomes A Net Oil Exporter
VS
A Net Oil Importer

Meanwhile Republicans File Frivolous Lawsuits

A Tanker of Texas Oil Heading to South Korea In The First Unrestricted Sale of Unrefined American Oil Since 1970s Embargo

How that $40 million shipment avoided the nearly four-decade ban on exporting U.S. crude is a tale involving two determined energy companies, loophole-seeking lawyers, and an unprecedented boom in American drilling that could create a glut of ultralight oil.

The Singapore-flagged BW Zambesi is the first of many ships likely to carry U.S. oil abroad under a new interpretation of the federal law that bars most sales of American oil overseas. Analysts say future exports appear wide open: as much as 800,000 barrels a day come from just one of the many U.S. oil fields pumping light oil.

Though U.S. policy on oil exports hasn't changed, production of this kind of oil, known as condensate, is surging. This early shipment "is the wedge that's pushing the door open" for more ultralight oil exports, said Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of consulting firm IHS.

Under rules Congress imposed after the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s, companies can export refined fuels like gasoline and diesel but not oil itself except in limited circumstances that require a special license. Such licenses, often for oil destined for Canada, are issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security, the unit inside the U.S. Commerce Department.

Until recently, domestic oil production had been declining and exporting oil wasn't a hot issue. All that changed as new techniques for tapping oil from shale formations have sparked an oil boom in Texas, North Dakota and elsewhere. Since the end of 2011, U.S. oil production has jumped by about 48%, to about 8.4 million barrels a day, according federal data.

That has been good news for companies including Enterprise Products Partners LP in Houston, a $47.7 billion company that processes, ships and stores oil and gas. Last summer, the company noticed a troubling trend: ultralight oil flowing from South Texas was flooding the market and pushing down prices. It predicted volumes would swell and prices could fall further as oil companies ramped up drilling and production.





Energy companies and lobbyists had started advocating for ending or at least relaxing the ban; Exxon Mobil Corp., the nation's biggest oil company, openly supported lifting export restrictions in December.

But neither Congress nor the Obama administration appeared willing to do more than study a change, which some lawmakers fear would result in higher gasoline prices in the U.S.

The industry embarked on a subtle, behind-the-scenes review of the regulations, discovering an opening for exports under existing definitions of the law. Enterprise and its lawyers found language that they believed would allow them to argue that the processing to remove some volatile elements from oil would be enough to make the resulting petroleum qualify as exportable fuel, even though it is a far cry from the traditional refining process.

The processing, which peels off fuels like propane and butane, is commonly done in oil fields across the U.S. Companies that manufacture the equipment involved say it costs between $500,000 and $5 million, a fraction of the expense of building a refinery.

When Enterprise made its case to the government, it said the equipment that its customers use to treat oil for shipment on its pipelines chemically alters the condensate in a way that makes it an exportable fuel. However, several industry executives say the equipment is not special.

"Early this year, we became very confident, extremely confident, that this was indeed a petroleum product that could be exported," Bill Ordemann, a senior vice president at Enterprise, said in an interview.

In late February, Enterprise representatives gave a private presentation to Commerce Department officials and answered a battery of questions.

Oil executives who have met with Commerce say five to 10 department officials are involved in the talks and decisions on export rulings. When energy companies began to plead their cases with the department in earnest, an official asked one company representative how to spell condensate, said a person at the meeting.

"I look for practical solutions. I looked over the regulations, said, 'What is my client trying to do, what windows do we have?' " said Jacob Dweck, a partner at Sutherland Asbill And Brennan LLP hired by Enterprise to press its case.

Pioneer Natural Resources Co. executives also were looking for a way around the ban. Pioneer, which drills across Texas, hired a former deputy secretary of the Commerce Department to represent it.

Ted Kassinger, a partner at law firm O'Melveny And Myers, zeroed in on existing oil field equipment and asked whether it might meet federal regulatory criteria. "We suddenly realized we had existing infrastructure that, at least in part, goes through a distillation process and is producing a product that's not crude oil," he said.

Jeff Navin, a partner at Washington, D.C.-based policy consultants Boundary Stone Partners, said that the final decisions rested on specific language in the export ban that didn't define a refined product but rather said oil had to pass through a "distillation tower," traditionally found at refineries, before it could be exported.

"So the question became, 'What constitutes a distillation tower?' " said Mr. Navin, a former acting chief of staff to the Energy Secretary. "The more narrowly you define that question, the easier it is to get the administration to side with you."

Commerce gave Enterprise the green light for exports at the end of March and Pioneer received its ruling soon after. Both companies said their applications weren't coordinated.

The decisions mean unrefined ultralight oil can now be exported from the U.S. in some cases, because the processed condensate that comes from field-level equipment is considered chemically altered enough to skirt the ban.

The White House was caught off guard by the news of the department's actions, which weren't coordinated with other parts of the administration, according to senior White House counselor John Podesta.

Pioneer said its ruling is narrowly drawn to fit its own operations. But Enterprise said its ruling isn't specific to its own operations or processing equipment. Any company that processes condensate in a manner that adheres to Commerce's ruling can sell it to Enterprise for export, the company said.

As many as 10 other companies have since applied for their own rulings on oil exports, according to people familiar with the matter. All those requests are on hold for now.

The 400,000 barrel shipment leaving the U.S. from Enterprise's terminal in Texas City, south of Houston, was purchased by GS Caltex Corp., a South Korean refiner. Oil traders and executives say negotiations are already under way for additional sales to Asian buyers.

Monty Henry, Owner

Additional Resources:

* The Official List of Barack Obama Accomplishments And Achievements

* How Do I Know If I’ve Been Bugged? 

* Targeted Individuals

* Operating The Brain By Remote Control


* What is BitCoin and How Does It Work?


* The Creature From Jekyll Island: This Blog And Video Playlist Explains Why The U.S. Financial System is Corrupt and How It Came To Be That Way


* Number of Americans Renouncing Citizenship Surges To Escape Oppressive Tax Rules

* Dropping Off The Grid: A Growing Movement In America: Part I

* Online Privacy Tools and Tips

www.DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com

Next-Generation Bug / Microwave / ELF / Spy Phone / GSM And Camera Detectors (Buy, Rent, Layaway) tinyurl.com/2eo8mlz Open...
— Spy Store Rentals (@MontyHenry1)

Nanny IP (Internet) Cameras, GPS Trackers, Bug Detectors and Listening Devices, etc, (Buy / Rent / Layaway): tinyurl.com/396jlw6...
— Spy Store Rentals (@MontyHenry1)

NOW, look in on your home, second home, lake house or office anytime, anywhere from any internet connected PC/Lap-top or Internet active cell phone, including iphone or PDA.

Watch your child's caregiver while sitting at a traffic light or lunch meeting, or check on your business security from the other side of the world. Our built-in hidden video features all digital transmissions providing a crystal clear image with zero interference. With the IP receiver stream your video over the internet through your router, and view on either a PC or smart phone. Designed exclusively for DPL-Surveillance-Equipment, these IP hidden wireless cameras come with multiple features to make the user's experience hassle-free.

NOW, look in on your home, second home, lake house or office anytime, anywhere from any internet connected PC/Lap-top or Internet active cell phone, including iphone or PDA: http://www.dpl-surveillance-equipment.com/wireless_hidden_cameras.html

Watch your child's caregiver while sitting at a traffic light or lunch meeting, or check on your business security from the other side of the world. Our built-in hidden video features all digital transmissions providing a crystal clear image with zero interference. With the IP receiver stream your video over the internet through your router, and view on either a PC or smart phone. Designed exclusively for DPL-Surveillance-Equipment, these IP hidden wireless cameras come with multiple features to make the user's experience hassle-free.

• Remote Video Access

• Video is Recorded Locally To An Installed SD Card (2GB SD Card included)

• Email Notifications (Motion Alerts, Camera Failure, IP Address Change, SD Card Full)

• Live Monitoring, Recording And Event Playback Via Internet

• Back-up SD Storage Up To 32GB (SD Not Included)

• Digital Wireless Transmission (No Camera Interference)

• View LIVE On Your SmartPhone!

Includes:

* Nanny Cameras w/ Remote View
* Wireless IP Receiver
* Remote Control
* A/C Adaptor
* 2GB SD Card
* USB Receiver



FACT SHEET:  HIDDEN NANNY-SPY (VIEW VIA THE INTERNET) CAMERAS

Specifications:

Receiver Specs:

* Transmission Range of 500 ft Line Of Sight
* Uses 53 Channels Resulting In No Interference
* 12V Power Consumption
* RCA Output
* Supports up to 32gig SD

Camera Specs:

* 640x480 / 320x240 up to 30fps
* Image Sensor: 1/4" Micron Sensor
* Resolution: 720x480 Pixels
* S/N Ratio: 45 db
* Sensitivity: 11.5V/lux-s @ 550nm
* Video System: NTSC
* White Balance: Auto Tracking

Make Your Own Nanny Cameras:  Make Tons Of Money In A Booming, Nearly Recession-Proof Industry!

Your Primary Customers Include But Are Not Limited To Anyone In The Private Investigator, Government, Law Enforcement And/Or Intelligence Agencies Fields!

* You Buy Our DVR Boards And We'll Build Your Products! (Optional)

Our New Layaway Plan Adds Convenience For Online Shoppers

DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's layaway plan makes it easy for you to buy the products and services that you want by paying for them through manageable monthly payments that you set. Our intuitive calculator allows you to break down your order's purchase price into smaller payment amounts. Payments can be automatically deducted from your bank account or made in cash using MoneyGram® ExpressPayment® Services and you will receive your order once it's paid in full. Use it to plan and budget for holiday purchases, anniversaries, birthdays, vacations and more!

DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's Customers can now use the convenience of layaway online to help them get through these tough economic times.

We all shop now and then just to face a hard reality -- big credit card bills. However, our latest financing innovation can help you avoid that. Find out why more and more shoppers are checking out DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's e-layaway plan.

If you're drooling over a new nanny camera, longing for a GPS tracker, or wishing for that spy watch, but you're strapped for cash and can't afford to do credit, do what Jennie Kheen did. She bought her iPod docking station (hidden camera w/motion-activated DVR) online using our convenient lay-away plan.

Our online layaway plan works like the old-fashioned service stores used to offer. But, in Kheen's case, she went to DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com, found the iPod docking station (hidden camera w/motion-activated DVR), then set up a payment plan.

"It's automatically drawn from my account," she said. "I have a budget, $208.00 a month.

In three months, Kheen had paid off the $650.00 iPod docking station. She paid another 3.9 percent service fee, which amounted to about $25.35 (plus $12.00 for shipping) for a total of $687.35.

"You pay a little bit each month," Kheen said. "It's paid off when you get it and you don't have it lingering over your head. It's great."

Flexible payment terms and automated payments make our layaway plan an affordable and fiscally responsible alternative to credit cards.

1. Register:

It's quick, easy and FREE! No credit check required!

2. Shop:

Select the items or service you want and choose "e-layaway" as your payment option. Our payment calculator makes it easy for you to set up your payment terms.

3. Make Payments:

Payments are made on the schedule YOU set. Check your order status or adjust your payments online in a secure environment.

4. Receive Products:

Receive the product shortly after your last payment. The best part, it's paid in full... NO DEBT.

More Buying Power:

* Our lay-away plan offers a safe and affordable payment alternative without tying up your credit or subjecting the purchase to high-interest credit card fees.

No Credit Checks or Special Qualifications:

* Anyone 18 years old or older can join. All you need is an active bank account.

Freedom From Credit Cards:

* If you are near or beyond your credit limit or simply want to avoid high interest credit card fees, our e-layaway is the smart choice for you.

Flexible Payment Schedules:

* Similar to traditional layaway, e-layaway lets you make regular payments towards merchandise, with delivery upon payment in full. Payments are automatically deducted from your bank account or made in cash using MoneyGram® ExpressPayment®

A Tool for Planning Ahead:

* Our e-layaway makes it easy for smart shoppers like you to plan ahead and buy items such as bug detectors, nanny cameras, audio bugs, gps trackers, and more!

No Hidden Charges or Mounting Interest:

Our e-layaway makes shopping painless by eliminating hidden charges and monthly interest fees. Our customers pay a flat transaction fee on the initial purchase price.

NO RISK:

* You have the right to cancel any purchase and will receive a refund less a cancellation fee. See website for details.

Security and Identity Protection:

DPL-Surveillance-Equipment has partnered with trusted experts like McAfee and IDology to ensure the security and integrity of every transaction. Identity verification measures are integrated into our e-layaway system to prevent fraudulent purchases.

Note: Simply Choose e-Lay-Away as a "Payment Option" in The Shopping Cart

DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com is a world leader in providing surveillance and security products and services to Government, Law Enforcement, Private Investigators, small and large companies worldwide. We have one of the largest varieties of state-of-the-art surveillance and counter-surveillance equipment including Personal Protection and Bug Detection Products.

Buy, rent or lease the same state-of-the-art surveillance and security equipment Detectives, PI's, the CIA and FBI use. Take back control!

DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com

Phone: (1888) 344-3742 Toll Free USA
Local: (818) 344-3742
Fax (775) 249-9320

Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com

Google+ and Gmail
DPLSURVE

Twitter
DPLSURVE

MSN
 Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com

AOL Instant Messenger
DPLSURVE32

Skype
Montyl32

Yahoo Instant Messenger
Montyi32

Alternate Email Address
montyi32@yahoo.com

Join my Yahoo Group!

My RSS Feed

Lower-End Consumers Continue To Struggle Despite Proliferation of Dollar Stores

Click Here Or On Above Image To Reach Our Experts

Lower-End Consumers Continue To Struggle Despite Proliferation of Dollar Stores

The battle for America's poorest consumers intensified Monday (7-28-2014) with Dollar Tree Inc.'s agreement to buy rival Family Dollar Stores Inc. for about $8.5 billion.

The chains thrived during the recession as the number of working Americans living in poverty increased by nearly 40%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The stores appealed to cash-strapped shoppers with bargain-basement prices and locations that were closer to their homes than many Wal-Mart supercenters. The smaller package sizes of everyday items like laundry detergent and cereal fit into the budgets of consumers living paycheck to paycheck.

Updated: August 18, 2014


Dollar Stores Apparently Don't Come Cheap


Dollar General Corp. offered about $9 billion in cash on Monday for rival Family Dollar Stores Inc., looking to elbow out Dollar Tree Inc., which made a competing bid three weeks ago.

Dollar General, the biggest so-called dollar store chain, has long been considered a logical buyer of Family Dollar. Chief Executive Rick Dreiling said he had shown interest in a deal multiple times over the past few years and expressed surprise at the agreement reached between his two rivals.

The acquisition would allow Dollar General to broaden its footprint in rural markets while giving it access to Family Dollar's robust presence in urban areas at a time when retailers are locked in a fierce battle to attract consumers.

Shares of Family Dollar climbed early in Monday's session and topped the per-share offer price of $78.50.

Representatives for Family Dollar and Dollar Tree didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

The combination of Dollar General and Family Dollar, the second biggest deep discounter, would have about 20,000 stores in 46 states, with sales of more than $28 billion, Dollar General said.

Last month's bid from Dollar Tree—the smallest of the three retailers—is worth about $8.5 billion, or $74.50 a share, in cash and stock.

Dollar General was thought to be deterred by the involvement of activist investor Carl Icahn, according to a person familiar with the matter. He had pressured Family Dollar to put itself up for sale and identified Dollar General as an appropriate suitor. 
As he cut its investment in Family Dollar late last month, Mr. Icahn said he was pleased with Family Dollar's deal with Dollar Tree and said he remained hopeful that another potential suitor would emerge.

Mr. Dreiling of Dollar General said Monday that he would postpone his retirement—originally slated to happen by the end of May of next year—to remain as the head of the combined company through May 2016 and added that he may not have announced his retirement if he had known Family Dollar were in play.

The executive has been credited with expanding Dollar General's product offerings, adding more stores and boosting sales during a difficult time for the U.S. economy. His retirement was thought to be a blow for Dollar General's merger prospects.

Todd Vasos, Dollar General's operating chief, would oversee a potential integration of the companies, Mr. Dreiling added.

The dollar store chains thrived during the recession as the number of working Americans living in poverty increased by nearly 40%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The stores appealed to cash-strapped shoppers with bargain-basement prices and locations that were closer to their homes than many Wal-Mart supercenters.

Despite general positive trends for dollar stores, Family Dollar has struggled as it raised some prices in a bid to offset some deeper discounts. At the beginning of the year, the company backed off the strategy and cut prices on about 1,000 items while also announcing plans to close 370 locations this year and slow the pace of new openings.

Mr. Dreiling chalked up Family Dollar's recent struggles to a variety of issues.

"It's a combination of a lot of little things that all add up at the end of the day to one big thing," he said Monday, citing product mix, pricing and store layout. He said that Family Dollar stores would look like Dollar General stores on the inside after a potential integration, although he said it was unclear whether there would be changes to the stores' banners.

Dollar General said it would be prepared to divest 700 stores to avoid antitrust issues and added Goldman Sachs and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. have agreed to provide financing for a deal, including for the $305 million termination fee Dollar Tree would get if Family Dollar ends their deal.






Total expenditures by U.S. households that earned less than $30,000 has been flat at an annual total of just over $1 trillion since 2008, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The malaise among America's weakest consumers has been reflected in several straight quarters of declining same-store sales and traffic at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.  and Target Corp., as well as slowing growth at the dollar stores.

Dollar Tree's acquisition of Family Dollar won't change those dynamics. But the combination of the No. 2 and No. 3 companies in the dollar-store category will create a company with more than 13,000 stores that can squeeze better deals out of its suppliers, giving it more heft to compete against No. 1 Dollar General Corp. and have more clout to counter any fresh moves from Wal-Mart and Target.

"Customers are under pressure," Dollar Tree Chief Executive Bob Sasser said in an interview. "Unfortunately, that's one reason why the space continues to grow."

Mr. Sasser will run the combined companies, which would have more than $18 billion in annual sales. The chains expect to save about $300 million a year as a result of the deal, largely through better buying power and consolidation of their distribution networks.

The merged company plans to maintain both brands. Mr. Sasser said the two chains don't have too much overlap.

While the two share Dollar in their names, they follow different strategies. Dollar Tree sells goods like picture frames and school supplies for a dollar or less and focuses on suburban markets. Family Dollar sells more branded consumer products like Tide detergent and Coca-Cola at a range of discounted prices and targets the urban and rural poor.

Dollar Tree agreed to pay $74.50 a share in stock and cash, a 23% premium to Family Dollar's closing price Friday. Shares in Family Dollar rose 25% to $75.74 on Monday, indicating that some investors think a higher bid could come along. Dollar Tree's shares gained 1.2% to $54.87.

Last month, activist investor Carl Icahn mounted a public campaign for Family Dollar to put itself up for sale, saying the retailer was underperforming compared with its peers. Mr. Icahn on Monday (7-28-2014) welcomed the deal but said he believes there are a handful of potential buyers that could make a better partner for Family Dollar.

Mr. Icahn has said that the largest among the dollar stores, Dollar General, is a logical buyer. A Dollar General spokeswoman declined to comment Monday (7-28-2014).

U.S. antitrust authorities and Family Dollar's shareholders still must approve the deal.

Executives said they don't plan to close stores but may turn some Family Dollar stores into Dollar Trees, or vice versa, where the existing stores are underperforming.

Dollar stores have been expanding rapidly even as other segments of the industry scale back. The three top dollar-store chains have together added nearly 10,000 stores over the past decade. They now operate a combined 24,000 locations and have projected adding at least another 1,000 stores this year.

Dollar stores have posed a competitive threat to other discount retailers. Trips to dollar stores have risen since the financial crisis, with 53% of U.S. shoppers in 2013 saying they went to one in the past month, up from 48% in 2007, according to the consultancy Kantar Retail. Meanwhile, the percentage of U.S. shoppers visiting a Wal-Mart at least once a month fell to 65% in 2013 from 69% in 2007. Some 39% of shoppers made monthly visits to Target in 2013, down from 43% in 2007.

When the economy started improving and companies began hiring, lower-income households were largely shut out of any recovery. Total income for households earning less than $30,000 a year dropped by 1% between 2004 and 2012, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During that time, total income for households that earned more than $150,000 nearly doubled, the data show.

The sluggish recovery among at the lowest economic rung surprised even Family Dollar, which made a poorly timed bet on a new strategy that involved raising prices and offsetting them with some deep discounts. In January, Family Dollar reversed course by cutting prices on nearly 1,000 items. It also planned to close 370 of its more than 8,000 stores this year and slow down its expansion plans.

The prices at dollar chains can be lower owing to smaller unit counts, but they can be higher per piece. For instance, a 28-pack of Pampers Baby Dry diapers sells for $10, or 35 cents per diaper, on Dollar General's website. But the same size diaper on Wal-Mart's website sells in a 180-pack box for $45.97, or 25 cents per diaper.

Earlier this month, Family Dollar said it would begin a multiyear rollout of beer and wine beginning in 2015 to boost sales and draw more shoppers into its stores. It echoed a move by Wal-Mart, which has spent the past couple of years redesigning stores to make room for more beer, wine and spirits in a bid to double alcohol sales by 2016.

The consolidation of Family Dollar and Dollar Tree could offset the pains of market saturation while leaving the combined company in a better position to fight off Wal-Mart's move into dollar stores' territory.

Over the past two years, Wal-Mart nearly doubled the number of smaller stores it operated to 407, and analysts say it could have as many as 2,000 smaller stores in the coming years. Meanwhile, b opened its first TargetExpress store last week aimed at shoppers who want to pick up a few items rather than commit to a bigger, stock-up trip.

Slowing Customer Traffic Worries U.S. Retailers

Warm Weather Hasn't Dispelled the Doldrums; Container Store Cites a 'Funk'

American Retailers May Have More Than A Weather Problem

Family Dollar Stores Inc. said fewer shoppers came into its stores in the three months through May 31, pushing sales down 1.8%, excluding newly opened or closed stores.

In a move to win back traffic, the dollar chain said it would begin carrying beer and wine nationally next year, adding to the tobacco, frozen food and other consumables that now make up 73% of sales.

"Our results continue to reflect the economic challenges facing our core customer and an intense competitive environment," Chief Executive Howard Levine said.

The discounter's message echoed that of Container Store Group Inc., whose shares fell sharply midweek after its chief executive told investors that the company and its fellow store chains are in a "retail funk."

"We've come to realize it's more than just weather," Container Store CEO Kip Tindell said. Falling traffic led to the first drop in quarterly sales at the company in more than three years.

Investors flocked to the seller of bins, boxes and shelves when it went public last November, and shares more than doubled on opening day to close at $36.20. But so far this year, shares have dropped nearly 44%, as Container Store has succumbed to some of the pressures weighing on retail broadly.

Results at retailers haven't been uniformly bad this spring. But there are enough negatives to shake earlier hopes that shoppers would whip out their wallets and resume shopping after the long, tough winter. The mixed showing continues to cloud the optimism arising from stronger job growth and rising consumer confidence.

The unemployment rate dropped to 6.1% in June, marking the best stretch of job growth in almost a decade. But five years into the economic expansion, big chains like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Kroger Co. remain divided over whether consumers are indeed bouncing back.

Sales at Wal-Mart's U.S. stores have been negative for five straight quarters as traffic has dwindled.


Kroger's shoppers are "exhibiting less cautious spending behavior," CEO Rodney McMullen told investors in June. "More customers perceive the economy to be in recovery" and are shelling out for things like premium pet food and organic products.

But Wal-Mart U.S. President Bill Simon said this week that the declining unemployment rate is doing little to bring shoppers into its stores. In an interview on CNBC, he predicted it would take six months to a year for retailers to start seeing a sales boost from job growth.

Sales at Wal-Mart's U.S. stores, excluding newly opened and closed stores, have fallen for five straight quarters, and traffic has dwindled for a year and a half.

L Brands, parent of Victoria's Secret, said Thursday that its merchandise margin rate dropped in June from the same period last year.


The economy's gains are giving a lift to shoppers who are already better off, but the low-end consumer "isn't gaining traction," Mr. Simon said.

Burberry Group PLC, which caters to those better-off shoppers, on Thursday said retail revenue, adjusted for currency fluctuations, rose 17% to £370 million ($634.84 million) in the fiscal first quarter ended June 30. The fashion house said its biggest challenge right now is the strong British pound.

On Thursday, a handful of chain stores reported sales for June, with uneven results. Costco Wholesale Corp. came in a little stronger than analysts expected, reporting a 6% increase in monthly sales, excluding gasoline. Gap Inc. reported a 2% decrease in June sales, which were stung by a 7% sales drop at its signature Gap stores. Sales at its Old Navy stores increased by 7%.

L Brands, which owns Victoria's Secret and Bath And Body Works, said sales grew 2% last month, falling short of consensus estimates for a 3.1% increase.

Among teen retailers, Zumiez Inc. reported a 3.1% increase. The better-than-planned sales, in part, led the retailer to raise its guidance for the quarter.

Overall, the seven retailers tracked by Thomson Reuters reported a 4.5% increase in June sales, excluding newly opened and closed stores. Thomson Reuters forecast the eight companies to record 4.2% growth versus a 5.4% increase a year earlier.

Near-term trends aside, store chains across the retailing industry are wrestling with what could be a permanent decline in shopper visits. Customers now use their mobile phones and computers to compare promotions, prices and products before heading into a physical store to buy clothes, electronics and increasingly, groceries.

Fewer visits mean fewer chances for impulse purchases as shoppers cherry pick promotions that sometimes produce losses, changing the calculus for retailers that have built their stores around traffic expectations that are now changing.

Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. warned late Wednesday that customer traffic in the second quarter was significantly weaker than expected and lowered its financial guidance for the year. Shares in the flooring retailer fell 22% to $55.25 on Thursday.

"Shoppers are making targeted visits to malls and going into fewer stores," said Christopher Ainsley, CEO of ShopperTrak, a Chicago-based data firm that records store visits for retailers using tracking devices installed at 40,000 outlets in the U.S.

ShopperTrak is changing the way it presents its data, as mall owners and retailers come to terms with declining store visits. In reaction to feedback from the retailers ShopperTrak serves, the firm said starting July 17 it would quit reporting results from individual malls and instead report the tallies by ZIP Code.

The firm said its customers wanted a way to understand what was happening in the broader area as opposed to just at individual malls.

Container Store said traffic had declined in the quarter, offset somewhat by higher tickets for the shoppers who did show up. Sales fell by 0.8% in the quarter ended May 31 from a year earlier, excluding newly opened or closed stores, and the company lowered its full-year financial forecast.

The chain's CEO, Mr. Tindell, said Container Store tried to resist the impulse to join other retailers in ramping up discounts to draw shoppers in. Retailers, he said, are training Americans to only come out to shop when there are deals in what has become "the most promotional environment I've seen in my career."

Dollar Stores Face an Emptier Future

Investors were prepared for weak quarterly results from Family Dollar Stores Inc. Thursday, yet they still managed to disappoint. In reporting earnings that missed estimates, the discounter said it was hurt by a promotional environment, financially constrained consumers and harsh weather. Those excuses didn't wash: The stock fell 3.2%, putting it 23.4% below its September peak.

Indeed, Family Dollar's actions show it is facing more than a mere quarter's worth of problems.

The company plans to close 370 of its roughly 8,100 stores this fiscal year and slow the pace of new store openings in the next one. Even then, though, it is in for a challenge.

Family Dollar and its two main rivals, Dollar General Corp. and Dollar Tree Inc., have expanded rapidly. Combined, they run about 24,100 U.S. stores, up from about 18,600 five years ago. In addition to more competition from one another, they also must vie with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which has been pushing prices lower to win back customers.

In addition, a brightening economic outlook may actually pose a problem. According to Wolfe Research's Scott Mushkin, the stores do better when the economy is challenged, with same-store sales negatively correlated with the employment rate and consumer sentiment.

An insidious, longer-term challenge for dollar stores may be their higher exposure to sparsely populated, rural settings versus other retailers. About 69,000 people live within five miles of a typical Family Dollar store, for example, compared with 142,000 people around a typical Target store, according to ISI Group. And rural America is getting emptier; Nearly 60% of rural counties lost population between 2008 and 2013, according to the Brookings Institution.

Monty Henry, Owner

Additional Resources:* How Do I Know If I’ve Been Bugged? 

* Targeted Individuals

* Operating The Brain By Remote Control


What is BitCoin and How Does It Work?


* The Creature From Jekyll Island: This Blog And Video Playlist Explains Why The U.S. Financial System is Corrupt and How It Came To Be That Way


* Number of Americans Renouncing Citizenship Surges To Escape Oppressive Tax Rules

* Dropping Off The Grid: A Growing Movement In America: Part I

* Online Privacy Tools and Tips

www.DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com

Next-Generation Bug / Microwave / ELF / Spy Phone / GSM And Camera Detectors (Buy, Rent, Layaway) tinyurl.com/2eo8mlz Open...
— Spy Store Rentals (@MontyHenry1)

Nanny IP (Internet) Cameras, GPS Trackers, Bug Detectors and Listening Devices, etc, (Buy / Rent / Layaway): tinyurl.com/396jlw6...
— Spy Store Rentals (@MontyHenry1)

NOW, look in on your home, second home, lake house or office anytime, anywhere from any internet connected PC/Lap-top or Internet active cell phone, including iphone or PDA.

Watch your child's caregiver while sitting at a traffic light or lunch meeting, or check on your business security from the other side of the world. Our built-in hidden video features all digital transmissions providing a crystal clear image with zero interference. With the IP receiver stream your video over the internet through your router, and view on either a PC or smart phone. Designed exclusively for DPL-Surveillance-Equipment, these IP hidden wireless cameras come with multiple features to make the user's experience hassle-free.

NOW, look in on your home, second home, lake house or office anytime, anywhere from any internet connected PC/Lap-top or Internet active cell phone, including iphone or PDA: http://www.dpl-surveillance-equipment.com/wireless_hidden_cameras.html

Watch your child's caregiver while sitting at a traffic light or lunch meeting, or check on your business security from the other side of the world. Our built-in hidden video features all digital transmissions providing a crystal clear image with zero interference. With the IP receiver stream your video over the internet through your router, and view on either a PC or smart phone. Designed exclusively for DPL-Surveillance-Equipment, these IP hidden wireless cameras come with multiple features to make the user's experience hassle-free.

• Remote Video Access

• Video is Recorded Locally To An Installed SD Card (2GB SD Card included)

• Email Notifications (Motion Alerts, Camera Failure, IP Address Change, SD Card Full)

• Live Monitoring, Recording And Event Playback Via Internet

• Back-up SD Storage Up To 32GB (SD Not Included)

• Digital Wireless Transmission (No Camera Interference)

• View LIVE On Your SmartPhone!

Includes:

* Nanny Cameras w/ Remote View
* Wireless IP Receiver
* Remote Control
* A/C Adaptor
* 2GB SD Card
* USB Receiver



FACT SHEET:  HIDDEN NANNY-SPY (VIEW VIA THE INTERNET) CAMERAS

Specifications:

Receiver Specs:

* Transmission Range of 500 ft Line Of Sight
* Uses 53 Channels Resulting In No Interference
* 12V Power Consumption
* RCA Output
* Supports up to 32gig SD

Camera Specs:

* 640x480 / 320x240 up to 30fps
* Image Sensor: 1/4" Micron Sensor
* Resolution: 720x480 Pixels
* S/N Ratio: 45 db
* Sensitivity: 11.5V/lux-s @ 550nm
* Video System: NTSC
* White Balance: Auto Tracking

Make Your Own Nanny Cameras:  Make Tons Of Money In A Booming, Nearly Recession-Proof Industry!

Your Primary Customers Include But Are Not Limited To Anyone In The Private Investigator, Government, Law Enforcement And/Or Intelligence Agencies Fields!

* You Buy Our DVR Boards And We'll Build Your Products! (Optional)

Our New Layaway Plan Adds Convenience For Online Shoppers

DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's layaway plan makes it easy for you to buy the products and services that you want by paying for them through manageable monthly payments that you set. Our intuitive calculator allows you to break down your order's purchase price into smaller payment amounts. Payments can be automatically deducted from your bank account or made in cash using MoneyGram® ExpressPayment® Services and you will receive your order once it's paid in full. Use it to plan and budget for holiday purchases, anniversaries, birthdays, vacations and more!

DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's Customers can now use the convenience of layaway online to help them get through these tough economic times.

We all shop now and then just to face a hard reality -- big credit card bills. However, our latest financing innovation can help you avoid that. Find out why more and more shoppers are checking out DPL-Surveillance-Equipment's e-layaway plan.

If you're drooling over a new nanny camera, longing for a GPS tracker, or wishing for that spy watch, but you're strapped for cash and can't afford to do credit, do what Jennie Kheen did. She bought her iPod docking station (hidden camera w/motion-activated DVR) online using our convenient lay-away plan.

Our online layaway plan works like the old-fashioned service stores used to offer. But, in Kheen's case, she went to DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com, found the iPod docking station (hidden camera w/motion-activated DVR), then set up a payment plan.

"It's automatically drawn from my account," she said. "I have a budget, $208.00 a month.

In three months, Kheen had paid off the $650.00 iPod docking station. She paid another 3.9 percent service fee, which amounted to about $25.35 (plus $12.00 for shipping) for a total of $687.35.

"You pay a little bit each month," Kheen said. "It's paid off when you get it and you don't have it lingering over your head. It's great."

Flexible payment terms and automated payments make our layaway plan an affordable and fiscally responsible alternative to credit cards.

1. Register:

It's quick, easy and FREE! No credit check required!

2. Shop:

Select the items or service you want and choose "e-layaway" as your payment option. Our payment calculator makes it easy for you to set up your payment terms.

3. Make Payments:

Payments are made on the schedule YOU set. Check your order status or adjust your payments online in a secure environment.

4. Receive Products:

Receive the product shortly after your last payment. The best part, it's paid in full... NO DEBT.

More Buying Power:

* Our lay-away plan offers a safe and affordable payment alternative without tying up your credit or subjecting the purchase to high-interest credit card fees.

No Credit Checks or Special Qualifications:

* Anyone 18 years old or older can join. All you need is an active bank account.

Freedom From Credit Cards:

* If you are near or beyond your credit limit or simply want to avoid high interest credit card fees, our e-layaway is the smart choice for you.

Flexible Payment Schedules:

* Similar to traditional layaway, e-layaway lets you make regular payments towards merchandise, with delivery upon payment in full. Payments are automatically deducted from your bank account or made in cash using MoneyGram® ExpressPayment®

A Tool for Planning Ahead:

* Our e-layaway makes it easy for smart shoppers like you to plan ahead and buy items such as bug detectors, nanny cameras, audio bugs, gps trackers, and more!

No Hidden Charges or Mounting Interest:

Our e-layaway makes shopping painless by eliminating hidden charges and monthly interest fees. Our customers pay a flat transaction fee on the initial purchase price.

NO RISK:

* You have the right to cancel any purchase and will receive a refund less a cancellation fee. See website for details.

Security and Identity Protection:

DPL-Surveillance-Equipment has partnered with trusted experts like McAfee and IDology to ensure the security and integrity of every transaction. Identity verification measures are integrated into our e-layaway system to prevent fraudulent purchases.

Note: Simply Choose e-Lay-Away as a "Payment Option" in The Shopping Cart

DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com is a world leader in providing surveillance and security products and services to Government, Law Enforcement, Private Investigators, small and large companies worldwide. We have one of the largest varieties of state-of-the-art surveillance and counter-surveillance equipment including Personal Protection and Bug Detection Products.

Buy, rent or lease the same state-of-the-art surveillance and security equipment Detectives, PI's, the CIA and FBI use. Take back control!

DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com

Phone: (1888) 344-3742 Toll Free USA
Local: (818) 344-3742
Fax (775) 249-9320

Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com

Google+ and Gmail
DPLSURVE

Twitter
DPLSURVE

MSN
 Monty@DPL-Surveillance-Equipment.com

AOL Instant Messenger
DPLSURVE32

Skype
Montyl32

Yahoo Instant Messenger
Montyi32

Alternate Email Address
montyi32@yahoo.com

Join my Yahoo Group!

My RSS Feed