Last Updated: Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Customers just saying no, except to Walmart

The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina)
December 23, 2008

Britt Beemer has studied and surveyed consumers for 23 years, and he has never seen a holiday shopping season as dismal as this one. The Charleston, S.C.-based CEO of America's Research Group -- and author of the recently released "The Customer Rules" -- spoke Monday about the 2008 season. Beemer, 57, predicts holiday retail sales will be down 2.8 percent and predicts that grim times will continue into 2009. Read on.