Christmas Eve sales slower than predicted

Probably because *'s economic policies only help the well to do. The rest of us are threading water.

By Mark Weinraub



CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. retailers faced slower-than-expected traffic in stores on the last shopping day before Christmas as extended hours and steep discounts failed to draw a big crowd of shoppers.

"I don't think the day is the kind of day that retailers thought it would be," said Britt Beemer, head of America's Research Group, which surveys consumer spending habits. "Christmas Eve is seldom the big day because of the fact that so many consumers ... want to be home."

U.S. retailers were counting on strong demand on Saturday to make up for solid but unspectacular sales so far this holiday season. The Saturday before Christmas has become the busiest shopping day of the year as consumers hold out for last-minute discounts.

Many retailers had opened their stores before 7 a.m. to take advantage of Christmas Eve falling on a weekend.

But most shoppers did not get an early start. The parking lot at Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was only about half full around noon, Hendrix said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051224/bs_nm/retail_walmart_sales_dc

be all that cracker jack a year for the ordinary retailer because his customers are having real shit years themselves.

was someone blaming lagging sales because 'Christmas came so late this year.' When was the last time it wasn't on December 25th?:eyes:

Lunar calendars are always later.

Rats

December 25 is the 25th day of December, from 12:00:01 AM (12-25) until 11:59:59/12:00:00 PM/AM (12-25).

Solar or lunar calendar have no effect on this. What did you mean by your statement?

people had more time to shop and profit should've been better I would think.:crazy:

I am a truck driver and just got back from a 3 week trip. Went shopping today and I've seen busier days during the year. Todays' crowds were not there..

NGU.

Tech bubble...housing bubble...

Quick! What's the new Plan B?

You still have millions of folks drowning in debt who don't care because they really believe Jesus will rapture them in a week or 2!

A lot of people have been given Monday off and are/were looking forward to the long weekend, to relax and try to enjoy the holiday instead of going bonkers with last minute stuff on Saturday.

I've a friend who has a retail shop, higher-end stuff, that was dead yesterday, in comparison to previous years.

One of my friends is a retailer and she said this year has been so slow. It's really hurt her. Last year all the stores were fairly crowded, but this year not so much. The stores that did have more people than usual, it seems they were buying gifts that cost less.

Even the houses weren't as decorated this year as last year. I went for a walk last night after dark and it seems only about half as many were decorated as usual, even the residential area that usually pulls out all the stops. It was strange.

the 23rd was very busy but yesterday there was maybe a third of the shoppers out. You could just tell the retailers were not getting the business they wanted. There were a lot of unadvertised specials to get merchandise off the shelves.

:shrug:
In NYC they are gonna blame the strike, although I noticed the stores were emtier than the rest of the year for weeks...

Gee, maybe the economy isn't as good as GW Hoover keeps claiming it is. </sarcasm>

Maybe we've never left the recession that he started.