The recession must be officially over--at least around here

I decided to do a little shopping today and went to the regional mall called Southpoint, in Durham.
You'd have thought it was Christmas! I arrived about 12:30 pm and circled the parking lot looking
for a parking space. I was not alone. Cars were following people walking out to their cars
to get their spots. The valet parking attendant was doing business ($4.00)and two cars were lined
up blocking one lane.

After I finally found a parking place, I went into several stores: Coldwater Creek, Ann Taylor Loft,
Talbot's, Belk's, Nordstrom's, Macy's, NY Company. Each time I purchased something I had to stand in line, several deep, to do so. People were not just looking, they were buying!

I couldn't believe it. I usually avoid malls on Saturdays but I thought that this time of year--with the recession--that it wouldn't be too bad. Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

Anybody else have a similar story?

:rofl:

as the economy needs people to spend in order to recover. However, I hope it's money they can afford to spend, and it shouldn't be spent on frivolous stuff.

I myself went into a busy T.J. Maxx, and got Curve cologne (For $8, I couldn't pass it up!)

That does make a difference. Lot of folks got paid.

and there were plenty of people walking around between them. Cinema complex at one end and the enclosed
mall at the other end. In between huge Barnes & Noble, Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, numerous eateries.
People walking around everywhere--and it felt like 90 degrees, at least.

I wouldn't have been surprised to see this much activity next weekend.

And this is in Oregon, with the second- or third-worst unemployment rate in the country. It's encouraging as long as people aren't spending money they don't have, which I doubt; sure, Americans are fervent consumers, but after the past nine months I think we all have a touch of financial PTSD and I would be surprised if everybody has gone back to their old spending habits this quickly. They probably just aren't spending as much, but at least they're out there spending.

people are going to buy...some HAVE to...

sP

they might be busier. Small retail/service businesses here are completely in the toilet. I heard a cat hospital in a neighboring community is closing.

Even then, not too many people. Mostly adults (!?) just hanging out in the cool. Almost every store was having a sale, and I can't resist 'just looking' at Nordies, Wm.-Sonoma, or Pottery Barn. Yuppies are like a car wreck to me, can't look away.

Back to school is one of the busiest times in retail stores. Stores try to get rid of their Summer inventory as quickly as they can to make room for the Fall clothes for school. They have big sales in normal times so I imagine their sales are even bigger now.

Which is not to say whether things are or are not getting better in your area. Just an observation. In my area, things are worse than ever, as our unemployment just topped 12 percent.