#menhirs

[illustratus]

[jareckiworld]

Jaroslav Paur (1918-1987) — Urban Menhirs II [oil on canvas, 1973]

[wordpress-blaze-233553194]

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Plunges to 2-Year Low: What It Means for Inflation, Jobs, and Your Wallet in 2025

As of March 28, 2025, the United States is experiencing a sharp decline in consumer sentiment, indicating increasing anxiety about economic stability and future expectations. The University of Michigan's most recent survey shows a dramatic fall in its Consumer Sentiment Index, falling to 57.0 in March from 64.7 in February, the lowest since November 2022. ​ Understanding the Consumer Sentiment Index The Consumer Sentiment Index, which is provided by the University of Michigan, is a principal gauge of confidence in the U.S. economy held by the American public. It tracks personal finance, overall economic situation, and buying attitudes. A decline in the index means that consumers are pessimistic regarding their financial situation and the overall economic situation, which can lead to decreased spending and slower economic growth. Reasons behind the Decline Some of the most significant reasons that the consumer confidence has dropped recently include: Inflation Anxiety: Persistent inflation eroded purchasing power, making the average consumer spend more on goods and services. During February, the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index grew by 0.3%, maintaining its 2.5% year-over-year gain. Core PCE, the measure of prices minus volatile food and energy costs, grew 0.4% in February and 2.8% from a year ago. ​ Trade Tariffs and Global Agitation: Placing new trade tariffs has added economic uncertainty. President Donald Trump's recent tariff declarations have increased worry about increased prices of foreign-made goods and potential retaliatory moves by trade partners. Such trade activism has ignited consumer  uncertainty about the general economic situation. Labor Market Anxiety: Rising fear around the labor market has also impacted consumer confidence. Two-thirds of consumers reported that they expected more unemployment over the next year, the most apprehensive since 2009. Fear around employment opportunities might lead to reduced consumption, hence even weaker economic growth. ​

Impact on Financial Markets Financial markets have experienced the fall in consumer confidence rebound through them: Stock Market Drops: The big indexes have dropped. The S&P 500 fell 2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite also took large drops. Investors are frightened by economic slowdown fears and a possibility of stagflation—a condition characterized by slowing growth and rising inflation. Bond Market Trends: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note declined to 4.26%, reflecting a shift into safer assets as investors seek shelter from market risk. ​ Financial Times Consumer Spending Trends Despite the decline in sentiment, consumer spending increased by a modest 0.4% in February. Adjusted for inflation, real spending growth was modest, which means that even though consumers are spending more in nominal terms, their real consumption has not been increasing significantly. Such mediocre growth in spending is worrying for the sustainability of economic growth. Inflation Expectations Inflation expectations have increased, with consumers predicting a 5% average rate of inflation in the next year and 4.1% in the next five years. Such higher expectations can affect the behavior of consumers, leading to reduced spending and increased demand for higher wages, which can, in turn, propel inflationary pressures. ​ MarketWatch Regional Perspectives In Florida, and in towns like St. Cloud, the ramifications of deteriorating consumer attitudes are being experienced. Local shops can observe slower traffic and sales as local consumers grow more cautious in their spending. The state's tourism industry, a staple of the Florida economy, could also be affected if consumers nationwide curtailed travel spending.​ Strategies for Consumers In light of these occurrences, consumers might utilize the following strategies: Financial Planning and Budgeting: Recalculation and recasting personal budgets to incorporate rising costs can help keep expenses under control. Emergency Fund: Establishing or restoring an emergency fund can provide a measure of financial protection if a job is lost or unexpected expenses occur. Investment in Human Capital: Investment in additional education or skills can improve employability and job security in an potentially more constrained labor market. The latest decline in consumer confidence emphasizes the troubles facing the U.S. economy, such as persistent inflation, trade tensions, and labor market challenges. As consumers progress through this complex setting, being very well-educated and exhibiting good financial practices will be crucial for minimizing the impacts of these economic headwinds.

Source: U.S. Consumer Sentiment Plunges to 2-Year Low: What It Means for Inflation, Jobs, and Your Wallet in 2025

[postcard-from-the-past]

Menhirs of the old Mill in the Normandy region of France

French vintage postcard

[lolochaponnay]

[uk3d]

Original Menhirs sketch | Limited edition fine art print from an original drawing. My sketches start life as hand-drawn graphite images made on cartridge paper. I often work on these with charcoal, oil pastel or Caran d'Ache to create the look I'm after. The artwork is then scanned and finessed digitally ready for fine art printing. This process often referred to as Giclée printing uses the highest standard of printing methods to give gallery quality results that maintain all the details of the original sketch. The graphite pencils I use are Faber-Castel, the oil pastels are Sennelier and the china-graph is Caran d’Ache. The inks are pigment based archive quality (100years+). The heavyweight specialist papers I use are of the best professional quality having a wonderful surface designed specifically for fine art drawings and illustrations. Very limited editions with only ten per size printed. All artwork is signed and includes a certificate of authenticity. The A5 are 5.8" x 8.25" (14.8cm x 21cm) The A4 are 8.25" x 11.7" (21cm x 29.8cm) The A3 are 11.7" x 16.5" (29.8 cm x 42cm) The A2 are 16.5" x 23.4" (42 cm x 59.4cm) Originals are A3 11.7" x 16.5" (29.8 cm x 42cm) Frames not included in price. Free shipping on artwork to all destinations. https://www.seanbriggs.co.uk/product/menhirs/?feed_id=4859&_unique_id=66e922a46c750

[xtruss]

Archaeology: French Archaeologists Decry the Loss of 7,000-Year-Old Standing Stones on a Site That Was ‘Destroyed’ to Make Way for a DIY Store Local Officials Argue That the Site has 'Low Archaeological Value.'

— Artnet News | June 9, 2023

Megalithic alignments in Carnac, Brittany, in north western France. Photo: Galivel F/Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty Images.

Dozens of prehistoric standing stones in Carnac, southwest France, have been removed to make way for a retail store. Debate is raging among historians, politicians, and cultural authorities as to whether this constitutes damage to a site of archaeological value.

“The site has been destroyed,” local archaeologist Christian Obeltz told AFP on June 7.

According to Obelitz, some 39 menhirs, the term for such standing stones, standing up to 40 inches-high, were lost. They are estimated to date back some 7,000 years, based on carbon dating conducted in 2010.

The local mayor’s office granted a building permit in August 2022 for a store to be put up by the chain Mr. Bricolage, which sells home improvement and do-it-yourself goods, and has a store under construction there, per AFP.

Isabelle Chardonnier, director of the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs for Brittany, attempted to “clarify the reality,” telling News in France that only four of the 39 stones potentially had archaeological value. As for 39 valuable objects being destroyed, she said, “the reality is absolutely not that.” The office said that some of the menhirs had previously been moved, meaning it was not a historical arrangement.

Mayor Olivier Lepick told AFP that he adhered to the law, and that inspections had found items of “low archaeological value.” The land in question is not a protected archaeological site, though it is near one.

For his part, Obeltz thinks local authorities did not do their due diligence. “There weren’t archaeological excavations in order to know if the stones were menhirs or not,” he told AFP.

French far-right politician Éric Zemmour tweeted on Thursday that ancient stones had been “massacred.”

Carnac, in the Brittany region, is known for grand fields of megaliths, some 3,000 of them standing in two protected areas that stretch over about four miles. The exact purpose of the standing stones is unknown. Some theories suggest sacred or funereal purposes.

In any case, according to the regional directorate: “The damage to a site of archaeological value has not been established.”

The Mr. Bricolage group told AFP that it “sincerely regretted the situation.”

[wordpress-blaze-233553194]

U.S. Consumer Sentiment Plunges to 2-Year Low: What It Means for Inflation, Jobs, and Your Wallet in 2025

As of March 28, 2025, the United States is experiencing a sharp decline in consumer sentiment, indicating increasing anxiety about economic stability and future expectations. The University of Michigan's most recent survey shows a dramatic fall in its Consumer Sentiment Index, falling to 57.0 in March from 64.7 in February, the lowest since November 2022. ​ Understanding the Consumer Sentiment Index The Consumer Sentiment Index, which is provided by the University of Michigan, is a principal gauge of confidence in the U.S. economy held by the American public. It tracks personal finance, overall economic situation, and buying attitudes. A decline in the index means that consumers are pessimistic regarding their financial situation and the overall economic situation, which can lead to decreased spending and slower economic growth. Reasons behind the Decline Some of the most significant reasons that the consumer confidence has dropped recently include: Inflation Anxiety: Persistent inflation eroded purchasing power, making the average consumer spend more on goods and services. During February, the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index grew by 0.3%, maintaining its 2.5% year-over-year gain. Core PCE, the measure of prices minus volatile food and energy costs, grew 0.4% in February and 2.8% from a year ago. ​ Trade Tariffs and Global Agitation: Placing new trade tariffs has added economic uncertainty. President Donald Trump's recent tariff declarations have increased worry about increased prices of foreign-made goods and potential retaliatory moves by trade partners. Such trade activism has ignited consumer  uncertainty about the general economic situation. Labor Market Anxiety: Rising fear around the labor market has also impacted consumer confidence. Two-thirds of consumers reported that they expected more unemployment over the next year, the most apprehensive since 2009. Fear around employment opportunities might lead to reduced consumption, hence even weaker economic growth. ​

Impact on Financial Markets Financial markets have experienced the fall in consumer confidence rebound through them: Stock Market Drops: The big indexes have dropped. The S&P 500 fell 2%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite also took large drops. Investors are frightened by economic slowdown fears and a possibility of stagflation—a condition characterized by slowing growth and rising inflation. Bond Market Trends: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note declined to 4.26%, reflecting a shift into safer assets as investors seek shelter from market risk. ​ Financial Times Consumer Spending Trends Despite the decline in sentiment, consumer spending increased by a modest 0.4% in February. Adjusted for inflation, real spending growth was modest, which means that even though consumers are spending more in nominal terms, their real consumption has not been increasing significantly. Such mediocre growth in spending is worrying for the sustainability of economic growth. Inflation Expectations Inflation expectations have increased, with consumers predicting a 5% average rate of inflation in the next year and 4.1% in the next five years. Such higher expectations can affect the behavior of consumers, leading to reduced spending and increased demand for higher wages, which can, in turn, propel inflationary pressures. ​ MarketWatch Regional Perspectives In Florida, and in towns like St. Cloud, the ramifications of deteriorating consumer attitudes are being experienced. Local shops can observe slower traffic and sales as local consumers grow more cautious in their spending. The state's tourism industry, a staple of the Florida economy, could also be affected if consumers nationwide curtailed travel spending.​ Strategies for Consumers In light of these occurrences, consumers might utilize the following strategies: Financial Planning and Budgeting: Recalculation and recasting personal budgets to incorporate rising costs can help keep expenses under control. Emergency Fund: Establishing or restoring an emergency fund can provide a measure of financial protection if a job is lost or unexpected expenses occur. Investment in Human Capital: Investment in additional education or skills can improve employability and job security in an potentially more constrained labor market. The latest decline in consumer confidence emphasizes the troubles facing the U.S. economy, such as persistent inflation, trade tensions, and labor market challenges. As consumers progress through this complex setting, being very well-educated and exhibiting good financial practices will be crucial for minimizing the impacts of these economic headwinds.

Source: U.S. Consumer Sentiment Plunges to 2-Year Low: What It Means for Inflation, Jobs, and Your Wallet in 2025

[illustratus]

Stonehenge with a carriage and travellers on horseback by James Ross

[jareckiworld]

Jaroslav Paur (1918-1987) — Urban Menhirs [oil on canvas, 1972]

[postcard-from-the-past]

Menhirs of Carnac, Brittany region of France

French vintage postcard

[hasnomoxxie]

How Obelix fell into the magic potion when he was a little boy

I had to get this out of my brain because I just read all at sea

Asterix angst no way, ash baby

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A quickie, no thoughts today I'm sleepy Twist his words oooooohhhhh you must feel bad now oh he so didn't wanna be there

The them for today!

[rossodimarte]

[hilobiak]

Menhir of Tejis

[agentc0rn]

Day 6 - Fairy type

[muppet-hell]

Being that annoying cousin with my interests rn I need Parc Asterix to release a full digital version of Attention Menhir I need better screenshots cause look at this

And its locked behind a plane ticket to France and ticket to the park

[letmeinimafairy]

More dolmens and menhirs, with handprints, luminous fog, birds or portals, and a couple of cliffs. I think I'll try adding more painted and sculpted elements, and ghostly creatures of course

[postcard-from-the-past]

100 years ago:

Les menhirs de Carnac (Bretagne) . . #insta #instagood #instagram #instagramers #instaphoto #instadaily #instamoment #picoftheday #photo #photooftheday #photography #photographer #travel #travelphotography #travelblogger #travelgram #love #beautiful #happy #likeforlikes #likeforfollow #like4likes #landscapephotography #landscape #france #landscapes #bretagne #menhir #tourism #tourist (à Alignements de Carnac) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTujgKdMr33/?utm_medium=tumblr