In a Christmas Season Dominated by Wal-Mart, More Than a Quarter of Shoppers Are Already Done Purchasing Presents

Retail industry researcher Britt Beemer added a dash of optimism to what had been a downbeat Christmas retail forecast after a strong performance by Wal-Mart over the Dec. 13–14 weekend.

Beemer, CEO of Charleston, S.C.-based America's Research Group now expects Christmas retail sales to be down 2.8 percent from last year's levels. The forecaster—who publishes a monthly furniture retail index—previously estimated that Christmas sales would be down 3.5 percent.

According to the fifth America's Research Group/UBS Christmas survey, nearly two-thirds of those who shopped over the weekend made trips to Wal-Mart.

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