From: "Randy H" 

Some of the numbers I'm seeing confirm this.

"Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message
news:3fdf4674$3{at}w3.nls.net...
> So much for the propaganda about strong Xmas sales
>
>
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c
=StoryFT&cid=1071251554721&p=1012571727085
>
> Wal-Mart reports subdued US sales
>
> Wal-Mart dampened hopes for strong holiday sales as it announced
> expectations that US December same-store sales growth would be at the low
> end of a 3-5 per cent growth forecast.
>
> In a weekly sales summary, the world's largest retailer said more
consumers
> were delaying holiday shopping and buying gift cards, which are not
recorded
> as revenue when purchased.
>
> Richard Hastings, analyst at Bernard Sands, said: "Wal-Mart shoppers are a
> huge aggregation of American society. The sales reflect that there are a
lot
> of households insufficiently funded for the future," said Mr
Hastings. "If
> you're an observer, you need to be very worried about this."
>
>

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