Sun Nov 29 12:56:00 -0500 2009

The Sunday Times (United Kingdom)

- On Friday, an estimated 134m bargain-hunting Americans descended on malls and shops on the second-biggest shopping day of the year (the Saturday before Christmas ranks first). Given the increase in the number of stores that for the first time opened for business on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, the rise of internet shopping, and the increased use of gift cards that are not included in sales figures until actually used, it will be a while before we know whether consumers — 90% of whom do have jobs — have decided to loosen the purse strings.

Dana Telsey of the eponymous consulting group concluded: “This year will be a profitable Christmas rather than a markdown Christmas.”

To view the full article, download the PDF here: The Sunday Times, November 29, 2009