Bush Foreign Policy hurts U.S. Brands

[KurtNYC]

One boost to the American economy should come immediately after Kerry is elected. Anti-Bush feelings in overseas have fueled a kind of casual boycott of American products.

The Financial Times reports that some of the world’s strongest consumer brands, like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Gap, are being hit hard. Coca-Cola sales in Germany dropped 16 percent from the similar period last year and the company is writing off $392 million “to reflect impaired business assets there.”

McDonald’s, a corporation with a remarkable historical growth record, has seen its sales come to a near standstill across Europe. Gap has pulled out of Germany entirely, a move that has helped to reduce its international sales by 10 percent. Falling attendance at Disney’s theme park outside Paris dropped revenues to where it had to be rescued by its parent company. Wal-Mart, the world’s most successful retailer, is facing heavy losses in Germany, which is the world’s third largest economy after the United States and Japan.

http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/Update44.htm

[theophilus]

1. I think this might be really important. Are the corporations

finally getting wise to how incredibly bad Mr. Bush is for most business? Is this possibly why the media is being "unleashed" at this late hour?

I've also heard it said that the media gave Bush a "pass" and he has used them and they are tired of it. The worm has turned, I guess, one way or the other.

The bottom line is not even served by the great Leader. Who would've thunk it?

[Stockholm]

2. Except Heinz Ketchup! n/t

[Bandit]

3. I wonder if that 392 million could be considered a contribution

to Bush*. As long as they support this Administration they will lose money overseas. People must realize just how much the Bush* Administration is dispised through out the world.