Retail sales aren't looking so bright. Wal-Mart did OK.

[heidler1]

Could the unintended consequences of criticizing Wal-Mart for selling cheap and paying low wages have backfired? The results tend to show that more buyers thought the critics were pointing out a place for bargains rather than a place to be ashamed of going to.

Bloomberg News

December 2, 2005


U.S. retailers yesterday reported lackluster sales for November, raising concern about the prospects for the holiday shopping season.

Federated Department Stores Inc., Target Corp., Kohl's Corp. and Costco Wholesale Corp. missed analysts' sales estimates. Sales growth slowed at luxury retailers Nordstrom Inc. and Neiman Marcus Inc.

Comparable sales at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. rose 4.3 percent, in line with the company's forecast.

Department stores suffered as consumers sought bargains and curbed spending. Companies that exceeded analysts' estimates, including J.C. Penney Co. and Limited Brands Inc. cut prices to compete with Wal-Mart's discounts on Thanksgiving weekend. Retailers may step up price reductions throughout the next several weeks to boost traffic this month.
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzshop4535283dec02,0,5707226.story?coll=ny-business-headlines

[kenny blankenship]

1. Wal-deMort always prevails!

evil finds a way...

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Geez! Can't they make up their minds?

I heard either MSNBC or CNN singing praises about the economy and how Wall Street is just giddy! (Then I turned it off)

[havocmom]

3. No, it's just that the economy is SO bad people can only shop cheap

[Benhurst]

5. And I read somewhere that , after a disappointingly slow start

last year, Wal-Mart started off the season with heavily-advertised, heavily-discounted goods.

[Warpy]

4. Arround here, they're trumpeting that bogus survey

of people with full shopping carts that cited a 22% increase in sales over last year. Note that this isn't a survey of retailers, but a survey of people who bought things.

They're really trying to flog this season to people who don't have much money left over from the past several months of inflation in food and gas prices and who are now getting hammered on heating costs.

I want to scream every time I see some vapid blowdried bobblehead pushing that fake figure. Good economy, my pasty, flabby white ass.

[catmandu57]

6. I've shot my wad

I'm officially, undeniably, broke. No more christmas presents, come back next month.