The wealthy don't buy more crap on black Friday.

Inequality is very visible in terms of what sort of consumption occurs. Gotta look at the qualitatives.

Wealthy people love feeling like they are getting a deal.

I would not expect wealthy people to be more price sensitive over all.

Sure they do. And during the holiday season too.

I don't know if it is just the wealthy either.

The retired middle class boomers I know are completely outside the business cycle.

While I don't think they have enough to really be considered wealthy, they have no mortgage payment, a social security check, a pension and most have a 401k.

The business cycle will not change their spending one bit.

It may, a bit. If the 401k is in the stock market, and the stock market is down, their total visible money is down. That tends to decrease enthusiasm for spending.

It may also affect it a lot. Retirees I know have a retirement plan that involves their retirement accounts being at a specific level at the end of each year. If their accounts are over that level because the stock market had a good year, they consider it funny money that they're allowed to spend.

That's not a plan, it's a suicide note with extra steps.

> That's not a plan, it's a suicide note with extra steps.

Being an aging human is a suicide note. The extra steps are the entire point of retirement.