Will this holiday season be the shot in the arm that retailers need?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Will this holiday season be the shot in the arm that retailers need?

Economy
By Sarah Halzack October 7

As the economy continues its streak of slow, steady improvement, the National Retail Federation offered an upbeat forecast Tuesday for the upcoming holiday shopping season. ... The trade association expects retail sales to increase 4.1 percent this November and December to $616.9 billion — much better than the 3.1 percent uptick seen last year.
....

Judging from their hiring plans, it appears some retailers are counting on a greater swell of holiday shoppers this year. Wal-Mart has said it intends to hire 60,000 temporary workers this year, a 10 percent increase over 2013. The retail giant also has said it will have more cash registers open this year during peak shopping hours.

Kohl’s plans to hire more than 67,000 temporary workers, 15 percent more than last year. Macy’s plans to add 86,000 workers , a nearly 4 percent increase from 2013. About 10,000 of those employees will be based in Macy’s distribution centers and will be focused on primarily supporting the company’s e-commerce operation.

UPS, meanwhile, is girding itself for what is expected to be a crush of holiday-season package deliveries as more shopping moves online. (The NRF predicts online sales will be up between 8 and 11 percent this holiday season, tallying up to $105 billion.)

[Crewleader]

1. Hi mahatmakanejeeves

You know this is the first year I've seen Christmas decorations go up so early,
way before Halloween even here in Florida. Must be the same everywhere, and that's a sign of the times.


Ioday's Cartoon

[Demeter]

2. Short answer: NO

Long answer--you've GOT to be kidding! With what fortune are we supposed to go shop, shop, shop?