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News Specialist Jed Boal reporting
Nationally, it's shaping up as the weakest holiday season in 30 years. But locally, discount chains and malls are not that pessimistic.
While many American merchants are in the red after the holiday shopping season, plenty of Salt Lake retailers say they gathered their share of green.
Shopping traffic in downtown Salt Lake looked a lot like the best of days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But nationally, stores do not think post-Christmas sales will boost the sagging season.
National estimates show sales will rise only 1.5 to 3.5 percent in November and December, the smallest gain since the survey began in 1970.
Local malls and retail chains we talked to said they broke even or did better than last year.
Their numbers won't be out for a few weeks, but, retailers say business began with a bang before Thanksgiving and continues today.
Wendy Nelsen's candle shop in The Gateway exceeded all her expectations.
"We were kind of projecting it would be down a little bit because of the economy. The reports we were hearing -- it was down. But when the reports came in, it was busier than last year," Nelsen says.
The sluggish economy, a weak job market, and the looming threat of war with Iraq don't fire up consumer confidence and spending.
The manager of this specialty kitchen shop says business has been cooking for several months
"Better than expected in our sales. Lots of people happy, lots of people out shopping with their families out, it was great," says Natalie Sherling, a merchant at The Gateway.
"I would read in the paper, they would say, most retailers are nervous, they're hoping for the last weekend, and we really didn't see that," Sherling says.
On the bright side nationally, online sales grew 41 percent this year, and many people are back in the stores today with gift certificates and hunting for bargains. That late season shopping could help the numbers.
