Sat Nov 28 12:53:00 -0500 2009

The Weekly Standard (Washington, DC)

- Yesterday, an estimated 134 million Americans descended on the malls and shops in search of bargains on the second biggest shopping day of the year (the Saturday before Christmas ranks first). Given the number of stores that for the first time opened for business on Thanksgiving day (including Wal-Mart’s 3,500); the rise of Internet shopping; and the increased use of gift cards that are not included in sales data until actually used, it will be a while before we will know whether consumers-90 percent of whom do have jobs-have decided to loosen the purse strings.

“This year will be a profitable Christmas rather than a markdown Christmas,” concludes Dana Telsey the very well informed head of the eponymous consulting group.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: The Weekly Standard, November 28, 2009