I know next to nothing about the economic climate of the United States. I'm still trying to figure out why, when a couple years ago the sub-prime mortgage wet dream blew up and the whole country was suicidal, within 6 months everything was "normal" and people were spending money like water again, although it can be argued that water is worth more.

But whatever that clerk told you sounds to me like the biggest string of nonsensical poppycock since Obama's last speech.

My humble, uninformed isolationist opinion.