Wal-Mart
Economists have been calling for holiday sales to rise 5%-7% over last year, which was one of the weakest shopping seasons in decades. So far, though, it's been touch and go for retailers, as early winter storms have blanketed parts of the country with snow for two weekends in a row.
The news yesterday of Saddam Hussein's capture prompted some analysts to predict that consumer confidence and spending will go up as a result. Many people were probably glued to the TV for much of Sunday, though, marveling as I was at Saddam's Grizzly Adams impersonation. Holiday shoppers may be happy that the dictator's in American hands, but whether that will actually translate into spending more cash (Yay, we captured a war criminal! Let's buy more toys for the kids!) remains to be seen.
Wal-Mart noted that fewer shoppers strolled its aisles last week compared to last year, supporting the idea that people are shopping closer and closer to Christmas. The retailer's results also exclude gift cards, which aren't counted in sales until they're redeemed.
Target
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