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Total sales were down 7 percent to $6.7 billion on Saturday, compared with the same Saturday in 2003, according to ShopperTrak. ShopperTrak will be releasing sales for the overall weekend later on Monday.
Niemira noted that luxury stores — which have enjoyed robust sales as their well-heeled customers have benefited from the economy's recovery — had the best performance. Stores like Sears, Roebuck and Co. and J.C. Penney Co. Inc. that catered to the mid- to-low income shoppers, who have pulled back on spending as they have been more vulnerable to higher heating costs and a volatile job market, attracted big crowds with deep discounts and expanded shopping hours.
What is hurting merchants is that there is no must-have item, except in consumer electronics — iPod music players and the PlayStation2 (news - web sites) video game console, for example, have become difficult to find in many areas, according to Marshal Cohen, senior industry analyst at NPD Group Inc., a market research company based in Port Washington, N.Y.
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So, luxury stores are benefiting from the economy's recovery, but the rest of us just can't find that "must have" item. Uh-huh.:eyes:
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