S8 Ep111: Jim McTague reports that the economy in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is strong, suggesting it mirrors the greater US economy despite reports of low consumer confidence, observing robust traffic at tourist destinations like Kitchen Kettle Village, a sho

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

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4.5 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 22 November 2025

⏱️ 9 minutes

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Summary

Jim McTague reports that the economy in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is strong, suggesting it mirrors the greater US economy despite reports of low consumer confidence, observing robust traffic at tourist destinations like Kitchen Kettle Village, a shopping locale established in 1954, with spending largely supported by well-off boomers. Local entrepreneurs are experiencing great success—a dealer selling eclectic electric lamps in Park City Mall is already earning $4,500 per week at the start of the holiday season, and high volume at Costco, where the Amish are major buyers, further indicates available disposable income. McTague concludes that the real economy on Main Street is strong and likely headed for a blockbuster Christmas season.
1954

Transcript

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0:00.0	There's no better feeling than waking up surrounded by comfort.
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0:20.0	or online with free click and collect in as little as two hours.
0:24.6	The home of your kind of cozy, Denelm. The home of homes. This is CBS Eye on the World.
0:38.5	Here's John Batchelor.
0:41.1	To Kitchen Kettle Village, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
0:47.1	The best county in the Keystone State reporting is Jim McTay,
0:51.9	former Washington editor of Barron's,
0:53.8	now turns his reporting attention to
0:56.2	Kitchen Kettle Village. Jim, there's something about jelly. What is this? Good evening to you.
1:03.1	Good evening, John. You know, Lancaster County, which we've proven pretty much mirrors the greater
1:09.7	U.S. economy, has the most interesting
1:12.9	entrepreneurs I've ever met. And kitchen kettle village is a shopping village that started out,
1:22.1	much like Amazon in somebody's garage. A couple named Burnley in Intercourse, Pennsylvania, began a business making jellies
1:33.3	in their garage in big kettles.
1:37.2	The jellies became popular, and carloads of people started stopping by their house
1:43.0	to watch them make jelly in the garage.
1:46.1	And this was back, I think it was 1954.
1:49.6	And it's grown into a tourist destination of, it's a little fake village of 40 shops, clothing shops, restaurants. of course, the jelly shop, which is famous,
2:04.9	meats, you name it, they have it.
	...

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