Salt Lake Tribune Japan spins wheels as wary consumers stash cash

spin one's wheels

to waste time; to remain in a neutral position, neither advancing nor falling back. (Fig. on a car that is running but isnot moving because its wheels are spinning in mud, etc.) I'm just spinning my wheels in this job. I need more trainingto get ahead. The whole project was just spinning its wheels until spring.

Salt Lake Tribune Japan spins wheels as wary consumers stash cash Salt Lake Tribune Japan says its economy contracted at a 1.1 percent annualized pace in the last quarter, stymied by slow consumer demand and weaker exports.