Experts predict this could be the worst sales season since the early 1990s as Americans hit by a housing slump and credit crunch make do with fewer holiday gifts.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters data have forecast that retail sales at stores open at least a year could fall 2.2 percent for November compared with 4 percent growth last year.
Excluding expectations for growth at discounter Wal-Mart, the expected decline is a more precipitous 6.6 percent.
Me, I plan on saving money and my sanity this year by shopping at Black Friday at Amazon.
There is no way I am going near a store again this holiday season, I hope, unless I am drafted. I do plan on spending a bit less this year, but not much. How about you, are you buying fewer gifts this year?
Oh yes, the wife and I are cutting back a little. And I'll be shopping from my den.
ReplyDeleteTallTim,
ReplyDelete"And I'll be shopping from my den."
Me too, I cannot understand the fun of running through stores looking for bargains but the gleam I saw in the eyes of the shoppers this morning tells me that I just don't get it.
My niece (23 years old) and I get together about once a month, shopping and lunch. During the holiday season it seems a bit more special to be with the crowds. At least 60% of my shopping will be online, it seems to be more each year.
ReplyDeleteMy wife flipped through the huge batch of TG fliers in the paper then gave it to our neighbor who was planning on joining the fray this morning. We slept in late and I made french toast :)
ReplyDeleteWe've already cut back pre-holiday season. Canceled a large kitchen remodel we had been planning, we did some smaller projects instead.
Everyone who was going to get a gift is still getting one and we're not planning on any kind of price adjustment due to economic climate.
I might do some shopping on Dec 26th, other than that I'll be keeping a low profile.
ReplyDeleteI do most of my shoping in the next three weeks, and go online or realstore depending on the prices. I already got a nice camera for my wife (shhh) and am getting the coolest little Esquire guitar for my 14 year old daughter.
ReplyDeleteThe economy has not touched my practice, and by blessed timing we had paid off some major bills, so we have some disposable.
I absolutely love to go out for one purchase on Christmas eve day. I put some fun holiday music on the ipod and hit a store. I ususally am just picking up a stocking stuffer, but I love getting out in the hustle for one gift. It is surreal and, well, interesting.
But I am not someone who enjoys shopping in and of itself, just when I find the right gift for someone.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Trey
Well, I always send food to my friends and relatives for the holidays. A nice smoked ham or turkey or brisket. Or all three. I sent my brother in Maine enough meat to feed his family for a month. I do this so that he can save money to buy presents for his kids.
ReplyDeleteBut as for shopping, here is my recommendation. The third week in January is the after holiday clearance sale. Then you can find real discounts, as much as 60-70%, storewide. So what you do is make a list, buy presents, then put them in the closet and wait till December. It's a great way to buy a bunch of presents and save a lot of money.
That said, declining retail sales is a strong indication that the economy is headed into a severe recession. As bad as 2008 has been, with stocks down over 30% across the board, 2009 is going to be worse. And the effects will be global, lasting for years.
This is what happens when the biggest credit bubble in the history of the world bursts.
My husband was returning from Eucharistic adoration (you'd have to be Catholic to understand) this morning at 4 a.m. when he saw a long line of cars backed up on Kingston Pike, headed into the parking lot of the Farragut Kohl's. He said the long line of people on the sidewalk was held in check by police tape.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable.
I have never done Black Friday but know some people who love the sport of it. I generally like to do one mall trip during the Christmas season when we don't need to buy anything, just to enjoy watching people while having a coffee. We usually end up using the time to point out pre- and teen behavior and dress to our kids - good and bad.
ReplyDeleteWe aren't cutting back on gifts this year but we don't generally buy a lot of gifts anyway. Most of my buying has been online. I do have to take my daughter shopping a bit as she likes to see and touch things before buying. But on the other hand, she hates going to the mall - she finds it too noisy and "ugly" as she puts it. We try to stick to small stand-alone stores.
Every year the National Association of Realtors comes out with dire predictions about how bad the shopping season is going to be, and every year we break records anyway. Sales might be down a bit this year, but we'll be fine.
ReplyDeleteKnow what? We never ever ever have spent much on gifts...we do spend on Christmas Eve dinner and we always will...we host the family festivities and my husband is a food freak. Boneless prime and you name the sides and appetizers and baked goods....he goes on and on and always has and always will but gifts? Not so much and never has. We like the family and the food and the great connection as we mash the potatoes and set the table and ... well... you get it.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter what the papers print or what the talking heads spout...everyone will still have a Merry Christmas.
I'd be careful shopping on Amazon for expensive items, esp electronics.
ReplyDeleteUnless you read up on the Seller's policies before you Click on the Lowest Price, you could get stuck with a real predator. Some have " No Return " policies, no matter what.
Amazon allows these sellers on their site-- and send you boilerplate denials of Claims-- without even conducting investigations.
Great place for used books and used DVDs and CDS, but before you buy anything expensive-- be sure to check the Seller's Policies-- many have huge re-stocking fees ( even if you cancel an order within minutes after placing it )... and Amazon allows No Return policies --even for items that arrive damaged.
Amazon does not protect buyers-- they allow Seller's to set their own policies... and their A to Z guarantee is meaningless.
We're spending more than last year, by about $1,000. We have eight kids in a blended family. My wife and I started spending on Christmas in October, and with every paycheck period, we put money aside into a Christmas fund and spend from that.
ReplyDeleteThis year was the first when my wife, who actually disdains shopping (unless it's for shoes), did the midnight shopping run and didn't come home until about 11 AM the morning of Black Friday. She went with her sister and our daughter. Had a great time, she said.
Ours is a mix of online shopping and local retail shopping. Depends on where the deals are.
A片-無碼援交東京熱一本道a片免費視訊聊天室微風成人免費視訊聊天 ut聊天室av1688影音視訊天堂免費 a 片85cc免費影城亞洲禁果影城微風成人av論壇sex520免費影片JP成人網免費成人視訊aaa影片下載城免費a片 ut交友成人視訊85cc成人影城免費Ａ片aa的滿18歲影片小魔女免費影片小魔女免費影城免費看 aa的滿18歲影片sex383線上娛樂場kk777視訊俱樂部aa的滿18歲影片85cc免費影片a片免費看A片-sex520plus論壇sex520免費影片視訊做愛聊天室avdvd-情色網qq美美色網ut13077視訊聊天sex383線上娛樂場sex888sex520免費影片sex999免費影片情色視訊sex85cc免費影片aaa片免費看短片aa影片下載城aaaaa片俱樂部影片aaaaa片俱樂部小魔女免費影片台灣論壇免費影片免費卡通影片線上觀看線上免費a片觀看85cc免費影片免費 a 片免費Ａ片aa影片下載城ut聊天室辣妹視訊UT影音視訊聊天室 日本免費視訊aaaa 片俱樂部aa的滿18歲影片aaa片免費看短片aa免費看aaaa片免費看影片aaa片免費看短片5278論壇情色偷拍免費Ａ片sex520免費影片後宮0204movie免費影片av俱樂部aaaa彩虹頻道免費影片 杜蕾斯成人免費卡通影片線上觀看85cc免費影片線上觀賞免費a片卡通aaa的滿18歲卡通影片sex520免費影片
ReplyDelete55123免費aa片日本a片av383 倉井空免費影片080aa片aa免費倉井空影片禁忌書屋成人小說網85cc成人片 西洋片視訊交友 百分百成人圖片微風論壇咆哮55123電玩快打小遊戲米克綜合論壇玩美女人影音秀美女交友av美女美女寫真免費a片卡通影音視訊聊天室080xxx383美女寫真玩美女人免費線上成人影片6k聊天室
ReplyDelete