MSC Industrial Supply (MSM) is a Fortune 1000 publicly traded Industrial Supply Distributor.
They supply tools and industrial supplies to other companies. Their biggest competitors are Grainger and Fastenal.
The relative success of MSC Industrial Supply selling to others companies is a bellwether indicator of the economy. If it's customers are increasing their spending, MSC will show gains in revenue. Conversely, if companies are holding back on spending, MSC will show reduced revenue. This "holding back" effect will affect profits and ultimately the stock price.
I came across this article today in Yahoo! Finance as MSC released it's Quarter 2 revenue predictions (Jan-February)
Although not calling out or specifically blaming Republicans, MSC predicts lower then expected revenues over the next 3 months due to tightening of it's customers in spending due to "The Fiscal Cliff Debate".
MSC's stock fell 5 points at Midday today on this news.
http://finance.yahoo.com/...
"CEO Erik Gershwind said that he was pleased with the company's revenue growth amid eroding demand, which he attributed to customer caution ahead of the fiscal cliff. He said that both demand and pricing have softened and the impact of fiscal cliff issues has yet to be fully resolved and digested by customers."
Lets call it as it is, the uncertainty of what the government is going to do.. ie..Fiscal Cliff, Debt Ceiling, is killing the economy. It is not the Debt, nor taxes stalling the economy, it's the Republicans continuing to hold the economy hostage.