Walmart had bad start to the month because the payroll tax is back???

[Yo_Mama]

20. It's everything combined

It's high gas prices plus the payroll tax hike.

Early February is too soon for the impetus from tax refunds to be felt, but that will hurt the second half of February.

If gas is costing people $20 - $40 more a month and payroll tax hikes are costing them $80 a month (predicated on average household income) it's going to start showing up down the line. For lower income people who watch every penny, the gas costs hit harder and quicker, but the payroll taxes don't help. If you make 20K the payroll tax increase costs you about $33 a month, but many of these people are still paying $20-$40 dollars extra for gas. $50 less dollars a month for a person earning a gross $20,000 annually will absolutely show up in reduced purchasing power.

Also it's cumulative. After 3 months the payroll tax hike will leave people short a bill or two, and that's when the fun really starts.