Shoppers out and about, Retails talk of bailout

This year’s shopping season isn’t over yet and already retailers are asking president-elect Barack Obama for help in 2009.

The National Retail Federation asked the president elect to include three tax-free shopping holidays in his stimulus legislation.

The group hopes the move will bring up consumer confidence and profits in the retail industry as well as help save jobs.

Meanwhile Lowcountry shoppers are crowding stores to take advantage of year-end sales.

Two nights before Christmas shoppers are scurrying about, while retailers are already talking about a bailout.

Fifty percent off here 70 percent there…deals too good to be true are no longer rare.

The economy is down but their shoppers’ spirits are up, determined to not to let trouble on wall street and main street disrupt.

Some shoppers are spending more than planned, with bargains bigger than ever putting more presents in hand.

“I got more for about the same amount that I spent last year,” said shopper Sanda Quick who’d been shoping at Tanger Outlet for quite a long bit.

Shoppers Tuesday night were looking and buying and then heading home to wrap, exhausted from shopping at toy stores and shoe stores and even the Gap.

November and December account for half of retail sales, but it looks like this year deep discounts could still fail.

These days before Christmas are make or break at years end, as everyone hopes the falling economy isn’t a long trend.

The research firm ShopperTrak estimates that shopper traffic dropped more than 16 percent in November compared to November of last year.

The National Retail Federation expects holiday sales to be the weakest in six years.

They’ve requested to Mr. Obama create a ten-day tax-free holiday in March, July and October in 2009.

Doing so could save shoppers like you about $20 billion.  That’s about $175 for the average family.