FYI.(Table)

Casual Living, November, 2008

Staff

Briefly.....

The National Retail Federation forecasts a modest 2.2% increase over last year's holiday spending, about one-half the increase we've been seeing the last few years. Total holiday spending in the November-December holiday period is expected to hit $470 billion.

To reel in sales from consumers who have been hit from all sides with woeful economic news, retailers will need to use every trick in their respective creative bags.

"Retailers that offer unique value propositions -- in terms of price, ...