I've already written, more than once this week, about the American consumer—perhaps too often for the patience of my readers. But there is no escaping the theme. It's the thread running through Wall Street's gyrations, the Federal Reserve's hesitations, and even the geopolitical intrigues in Europe. Whether buying lipstick, lumber, or a high-definition graphics card, the consumer remains the linchpin of this entire drama. And right now, the mood is ambivalent, bordering on weary.
