Consumer spending had its largest fall this year, thanks to the end of the "Cash for Clunkers" program. And, incomes were flat. No change to the money coming in and a drop in the cash going out translates to an impediment to economic recovery.

In September, consumer spending fell 0.5%, the first decline in five months and the worst in nine. Wages and salaries dropped 0.2%, effectively offsetting the 0.2% up-tick in August. The economy did grow in the third quarter of 2009, hinting that the worst recession in 70 years may be coming to a close, but the tough September suggests we still have some work in front of us.

A fear of a loss of income will continue to squelch consumer spending. Most people I know are fearful about their futures -- i.e., losing their jobs or seeing a cut in commissions, profits, or wages. This means they will hang on to their pennies in 2010.

Bottom line: Consumers drive 70% of GDP, and a meaningful recovery will not happen without their dollars.

Next: Reason #4: Changing consumer attitudes

What's a high income in the United States? Right now, ask 10 Americans and you'll probably get 10 answers.

The reason the topic is mentioned here is that views on income help determine U.S. income tax policy: they help push the U.S. Congress in one direction or the other.

"The government will likely do whatever it takes to breathe life back into the banking sector," says Bryan Perry. In The 25% Cash Machine the growth & income specialist eyes iShares S&P US Preferred Stock (NYSE: PFF).

"One of the hottest themes of 2009 for big-cap money managers is to take a stake in high-yielding preferred stocks in companies backed by the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

"Preferred stocks were smoked with the credit markets in the latter part of 2008, to a point where the definition of 'capitulation' was rewritten for all time. But investors are still attracted to preferreds because yields are near double digits, and famed investors like Warren Buffett are also investing their money there.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

As the name implies, Dividend Superstars focuses on quality income-generating ideas. Here, Nilus Mattive looks to Patterson-UTI (NASDAQ: PTEN) as his top "contrarian" idea for 2009.

"For the Dividend Superstars Annual Forecast Issue, I screened for companies that had zero debt, single-digit P/Es, recent dividend hikes, payout ratios under 25%, a dividend coverage ratio exceeding 2.

"While it was a tall order, one company jumped to the top of my list: Patterson-UTI. As one of the biggest land-based drillers in North America, the company is highly correlated to demand and prices for that commodity.

"Recently, that hasn't been a good thing, especially because the slowing economy and tight credit has made companies less inclined to drill. The shares have gotten, well, drilled!

"But everything is cyclical. And Patterson-UTI has the financial wherewithal to weather the storm. It also has plenty of money to dole out to shareholders.

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"For the best risk-adjusted results we're looking at corporate bonds," says BizRadio host Daniel Frishberg, whose favorite pick for 2009 is the Energy Conversion Devices 3% convertible bond due 6/15/2013.

In The MoneyMan Report, he suggests. "These securities -- which are convertible into shares of the solar power stock Energy Conversion Devices (NASDAQ: ENER) -- could generate a major score, since the company is right in the Obama sweet spot."

"We are following the government as it moves its market manipulation up the risk curve.

"We have seen the government first buying commercial paper and short term bonds to move the Fed Funds Rate, then moving investors up the ladder to long-term Treasuries, then on to agency and high-grade corporate bonds.

"Each time, these moves have produced stock-like capital gains for investors with the knowledge to participate in these markets.

"Annaly Capital (NYSE: NLY) is in the sweet spot," says Steve Sjuggerud in Daily Wealth. He says, "It borrows money at a low interest rate and invests it at a higher rate -- and earns the 'spread'."

"The cost of money is historically low, and it's headed lower. Meanwhile, relative to the cost of money, the return on money is higher than it's ever been.

"The ultimate way trade on this historic discrepancy, for high-returns with very low risk, is through shares of companies like Annaly, which is now s now paying a 16% dividend.

"In the latest-reported quarter, the company borrowed money at 3.5%. (The credit markets have calmed down a bit, so its cost of borrowing should be even lower next quarter.)

"It invests the money in government-guaranteed bonds. You remember how the Treasury bailed out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? It wiped out shareholders. But it explicitly guaranteed the bonds.

"In the latest-reported quarter, Annaly earned 5.6% interest on these risk-free bonds. Therefore, it earned a 2.1% spread. If the company uses seven times leverage, a 2.1% spread means a 14.7% return on its money.

"Analysts estimate the company will earn $2.50 per share next year. It pays out essentially all of its earnings in dividends. So that'll be a dividend yield of about 19%. This is ridiculous. An opportunity like this only appears during market turmoil like we're experiencing now.

"This is a historic moment. The difference between the cost of money and the return on money relative to that cost is at the most extreme levels I've seen in my career. Take advantage, and buy stocks like Annaly today."

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com offers a daily look at the latest market commentary and favorite stock picks and investment ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletter advisors.

The New York Times reports that a new book -- Unequal Democracy by Larry M. Bartels, a Princeton economics professor -- contains statistics that demonstrate an important historical pattern -- the U.S. economy does better under Democratic presidents than under Republican ones. That is, the last eight years -- in which the median income shrank while consumer prices rose -- is just an extreme example of the economic impact of Republican presidencies.

And based on statistics from Forbes, the stock market also does better under Democratic presidents. Forbes "found that the S&P 500 has averaged a total return of 14.1% per year under Democratic presidents since April 1945, and 11.8% under Republicans. The best total returns--17.4% per year--were under Bill Clinton, whose presidency ranked first in economic results."

How much better does the economy do under Democrats? The Times reports that between 1948 and 2007, Gross National Product (GNP) growth per capita was 1.14 percentage points higher under Democrats (2.78%) compared to 1.64% for Republicans. The Times reports "that 1.14-point difference, if maintained for eight years, would yield 9.33 percent more income per person, which is a lot more than almost anyone can expect from a tax cut."

"The operations of many energy partnerships have nothing to do with the price of crude and natural gas; they only need to have demand to move and process crude oil and natural gas rather than to pump it out of the ground," explains Neil George.

In his specialized advisory services, The Partnership, he looks at Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (NYSE: KMP) and Kinder Morgan Management (NYSE: KMR).

"Midstream partnerships--those that operate pipelines or storage and processing facilities segments as well as those that invest in these segments--are among the most stable distribution payers.

"And, more importantly right now, they're among the most stable investments in what's become a treacherous stock market.

These middlemen, in between the producers and the consumers, are perhaps the best hedge for your portfolio as they continue to generate hefty cash flows for investors.

"Whether the broad energy market is up or down, these partnerships continue to be all-around successes. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners and Kinder Morgan Management, are Foundation holdings in our portfolio.

Things are not working out so well for those at the Fed who deny that inflation exists. After all, its job is to keep the currency strong by putting out brush fires of inflationary expectations before they can become a firestorm of price spike fears. And if current consumers' expectations of inflation are any measure, the Fed is not doing its job.

That's according to the Associated Press, which reports that 90% of those it polled expect ballooning costs to squeeze them financially over the next half-year. Consumers have less money than they used to -- the median income is down since 2000 from $61,000 to $60,500. And prices have risen -- food has tripled in many cases and gasoline prices are up to around $4.20 a gallon. But the Fed does not see this -- it measures inflation excluding food and fuel -- and has kept rates at 2%.

And with housing in the tank and lenders in trouble, they can't borrow their way to balancing their budgets. Since the Fed is not controlling inflation, people are coping by cutting back. They are driving less, easing off the air conditioning and heating at home and cutting corners elsewhere. Half are curtailing vacation plans; nearly as many are considering buying cars that burn less gas.

Even in the best of financial times, living within your means can be a challenge. When economies contract, as we are experiencing now, things become even tougher as spendable cash becomes more scarce. From the offices of banks and investment firms, right on down to the worker who wipes tables at your favorite corner diner, people across the country are feeling the effects of economic slowdown. Some of the people most deeply affected are those who make a substantial part of their income as a percentage of sales. As the amount of cash flow dwindles, so shrink the incomes based on commissions and tips at the point of sale.

Consumer spending increased 0.4%, but rose just a scant 0.1% after adjusting for inflation, in March 2008, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Thursday, as higher prices eroded income gains for Americans.

Further, it was the fourth straight month of sub-par real consumer demand.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected March 2008 consumer spending to increase 0.3%.

Meanwhile, inflation accelerated in March 2008, with consumer prices increasing 0.3%. Core prices, which exclude food and energy, also increased just 0.2%. For the past 12 months, consumer prices have increased 3.2%, while the core rate has increased 2.1%, or just above the U.S. Federal Reserve's inflation ceiling, commonly referred to as the Fed's 'comfort zone.'

So you've been on the job for three years but the boss won't cut you a raise. Is that your problem, friend? Perhaps the solution to your problem rests in your own hands. If you can prove you're deserving of a raise in salary and you take the appropriate steps to get one, an increase in taxable income just might be in your future. Take a look at the following informative video to gain some insight on effective paycheck building strategy. If you employ the tactics discussed in this video, and you still can't get a raise, it might be time to seek a new employer. I believe that you have every right to expect appropriate compensation for exemplary job performance, even if that means getting it from a new company.

Inflation: "An increase in the amount of money and credit in relation to the supply of goods and services; An increase of the general price level; An excessive or persistent increase in wages and costs causing a decline in purchasing power."

Recession: "A temporary falling off of business activity during a period when such activity has been generally increasing."

(Source: Websters New World Dictionary, Third College Edition)

Rather than an opinion piece, which is what I generally write, this little snippet is meant more as a discussion generator than a statement of my own economic view. I earnestly invite our readers to weigh in on the matter. Inflation or recession, are we now experiencing either or both?

Consumers spent more than they earned in November 2007, returning to near-decade long characteristic that has been responsible for driving a considerable portion of U.S. economic growth, the U.S Commerce Department reported Friday. Meanwhile, nominal income rose just 0.4% in November 2007, below the 0.5% estimate, the department announced. Nominal income gained 0.2% in October 2007.

Consumer spending rose 1.1% in November 2007, above the 0.9% estimate. Spending on durable goods -- such as autos, furniture and appliances -- increased 0.6%, after a 0.1% decline in October 2007. Non-durable goods spending also rose 0.6%, and services spending gained 0.5%.