Oct 8, 2007

Holiday retail: Bah, Humbug!By Parija B. KavilanzCNNMoney.com

New York — As shoppers get ready to start the annual frenzy over holiday shopping, retailers are strapping in for what is likely to be a bumpy ride.

A field of retail experts surveyed by CNNMoney.com said they expect sales to increase between 2 and 5 percent – with most predicting numbers in the low end of that range.

Last year, national retail sales in November and December rose 4.6 percent over the same period a year earlier.

“This holiday season is going to be terrible,” said Howard Davidowitz, chairman of retail consulting and investment banking firm Davidowitz & Associates. He thinks holiday sales will rise a mere 2 percent over last year.

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