Lots Of Love In South Florida
Dec 21, 2008 12:20 am US/Eastern
Holiday Shopping Still Suffering From Bad Economy
AVENTURA (CBS4) ―
If you haven't finished your holiday shopping yet, you'll like what you'll find in stores. Deep discounts are showing up across malls and stores as retailers try to salvage what's already been a brutal holiday shopping season. In the final countdown to the holidays, retailers are hoping for a miracle to boost their sagging sales.
Teresa Butch brought her daughter Dahlila to meet Santa at Aventura mall. She shopped, too, but didn't find the deals she hoped for. "I thought it would be a lot better," she admitted.
Many shoppers like Butch are cutting back and looking for the deepest and steepest discounts. Stores at Aventura and other malls know that, and hope to entice shoppers. Saturday's sales are important as retailers hope to improve their bottom lines.
But the bargains are in the eyes of the beholders. We saw some shoppers weighed down with bags and gifts. But other people, walking empty-handed, are signs of a struggling economy and one of the worst holiday shopping seasons in decades.
Jose Novo told CBS4 Reporter Carey Codd, "I'm seeing less people buying things. And look around, there's fewer people carrying bags."
Teresa Butch cut her spending in half. She and others hope a year from now, the sale signs will still be up and they'll have more money to spend.
"I think it's gonna get better but everybody's going through a tough time right now," Butch acknowledged.
As the economy struggles, shoppers are more discriminating with their dollars. Nearly everybody interviewed says they're cutting back this year and sticking to a budget. "I like to look and compare things," shopper Ina Charles said, "because a lot of places have the same things or things that are similar and sometimes you'll find things that are little cheaper."
Industry experts say retailers are especially concerned about January. They fear a worsening economy, people who have no reason to shop and the probability of some who will return gifts to get much needed cash.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Holiday Section
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
