Consumers sick of recession, may spend extra on holidays

Filed under: Wal-Mart (WMT), Walgreen Co (WAG), Gap Inc (GPS), RadioShack Corp (RSH), Recession

If consumers try a little harder this year, the holiday season has a shot of hiding memories of last year's nightmare for retailers. The retailers are doing their part, with Walmart (WMT), Gap (GPS), RadioShack (RSH), Walgreens (WAG) and many others opening their doors Thanksgiving Day, giving shoppers the opportunity to start their spending early. There's a chance that consumers will spend a bit more this year to thank each other for keeping their belts so tight for so long.

Forecasts of the season's ultimate result remain difficult to pin down. Some expect a year-over-year decline of 3%, and predictions range to an increase of 2%. Credit is harder to come by, and unemployment remains over 10% and at a 26-year high. But, the pressures on spending are offset by pent-up emotion and a stabilizing financial environment -- even if it isn't getting better yet, it doesn't seem to be getting worse.

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Consumers sick of recession, may spend extra on holidays originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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