Upscale retailers riding high (And Alone?)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=10802

Reuters)—U.S. retailers are gearing up for a big holiday shopping weekend in a much merrier mood than a year ago, thanks to a rebounding U.S. economy that is likely to drive better sales, particularly of high-end goods.

Luxury chains including Tiffany & Co. Inc., Nordstrom Inc. and Sharper Image Corp. have seen big sales improvements over last year, and analysts expect that to continue through the vital holiday season.

But with some analysts looking for a blockbuster 5 percent to 7 percent holiday sales increase over 2002, big chains have tried to cool expectations for a bumper holiday.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp. and others have told analysts not to count on a huge improvement over last year's lackluster pace.
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I'm glad someone's going to have a nice Christmas. The poor can all take heart that the wealthy will have better items to give to the Salvation Army thrift stores. Yippee!

[rucky]

1. And the rich get richer...

and the poor get poorer.

Happy Holidays!