Article: CHAIN STORES HAD JOLLY HOLIDAY DISCOUNT CHAINS, SPECIALTY STORES KEEP EDGE OVER DEPARTMENT STORES.(BUSINESS)

Bolstered by a good economy, high levels of disposable income and consumer confidence, it was jingle all the way for the nation's retailers this Christmas.

The nation's large chain stores reported Thursday on December sales at stores open at least a year, called same-store sales, and many defied the rosy 5 percent to 6 percent sales jumps forecast as the season began. The bricks-and-mortar merchants also appear to have beaten back a challenge from Internet rivals.

``You had a very strong economic climate, and the consumer was not afraid to spend, and they went out and spent in the stores and on the Internet,'' said David Herskovits, a partner with ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!