Limited Brands Inc. (LTD) reported results for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 with earnings of 2 cents per share. Earnings were below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 6 cents but were up 50% compared to the prior-year quarter.   Net sales for the quarter declined 3.5% year-over-year to $1.7 billion due to a 2% decline in comparable same store sales (comps).   According to channels, comparable same store sales of Victoria’s Secret channel contracted 4% as bra sales rose only modestly by low single-digits, while panties sales were down low single-digits. However, beauty sales were flat year-over-year as declines were fully offset by new launches and the strong performance of core products.   Bath & Body Works channel’s comparable store sales increased 2% during the quarter. The channel benefited from the improvement in the merchandise margin rate.   Gross margin for the quarter expanded 16 basis points

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What group can claim credit for being the driving force behind the world’s largest economy? Hint: You are probably a member of this group.

The answer is U.S. consumers, whose spending is responsible for more than 70% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). As we’ve seen in recent years, when consumer conditions are bad, the effects can be widespread. If consumer spending falters, it affects business income and tax revenues. If revenues fall far enough, the effects can include increased unemployment, which in turn exaggerates the problem because the unemployed have reduced incomes and tend to make fewer purchases.

Economists, traders, investors, and policymakers all take great interest in the financial health of consumers and what they may do next. Here are some popular indicators of consumer behavior.

The Monthly Retail Trade Survey is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, which mails questionnaires to about 12,500 businesses. The Census Bureau uses the data

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The consumer electronics industry is in the nadir of its seasonal cycle. The Chinese New Year (when all the Asian workers go home, including those who are not Chinese) has recently ended, so there has been no production news and no technology announcements. The Super Bowl did not generate a buying spree of large TV sets. Retail inventories at those mass merchandisers I visit are still on the high side and it will be several months before they come down to more reasonable levels. In the meantime, TV producers are cutting prices to move inventory sitting in containers in Hong Kong and Singapore.Westinghouse (not the old company but the buyer of the name) will be offering a 42″ LCD TV for less than $700 at retail. This is the sweet spot for screen size at the moment. Street sale prices for an off-brand set this …