Retailers Concerned How Storm May Affect Holiday Sales

Coming off an ice-bitten week of downed power lines, dead phones and snow-clogged streets, Inland Northwest industries hope to glide into the Thanksgiving holiday with no disruption and a welcomed day off.

Retailers, meanwhile, are hoping that local shoppers haven’t exhaust their funds - and energy - buying batteries and generators last week. The day after Thanksgiving traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping season and stores are planning to bury prospective shoppers with TV, radio and newspaper promotions, encouraging them to return to the stores.

A survey of 8,000 shoppers released last week by America’s Research Group found that, contrary to many forecasts for big holiday sales gains, shoppers plan to spend 1.5 percent more buying gifts this holiday than last year.

If true, analysts said that would result in the worst sales in two decades. At many stores, holiday sales account for a third of the year’s business.

Consumers who were surveyed said they are trying to save more money because they’re worried about paying for their retirement or children’s education.

In other events this week:

Today

APEC summit in the Philippines discusses implementation of agreement for regional free trade by 2020.

National Association of Realtors releases October existing home sales.

Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade ends after 24 years.

Tuesday

Agricultural Outlook Conference opens at the Red Lion Inn in Pasco, with presentations from Washington State University economists and others on NAFTA, transportation systems, government regulation, crop insurance and doing business in the former Soviet Union. Cost: $65. Call extension economist R. Thomas Schotzko at Washington State University, 509-335-2854.

Wednesday

U.S. Department of Labor releases 1996 Trendsetter List of companies acting to ensure their goods are not made in sweatshops.

Missouri Department of Health conducts lottery to determine who receives drugs that may control AIDS.

U.S. Department of Commerce releases third quarter gross domestic product.

Commerce Department releases October durable goods report.

U.S. Department of Agriculture releases report on agricultural prices.

Thursday

Thanksgiving Day. Markets closed.

Friday

Day after Thanksgiving, traditional start of holiday shopping season.

First International Meeting of Working Children opens in India, through Dec. 6.

Saturday

Staples The Office Superstore opens its first Spokane store at 2624 N. Division.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Total employment

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON THE SHELF Business Week, Nov. 25: The magazine ranks the best and worst corporate boards of directors. The best: Campbell Soup, which wins praise for governance practices and disclosing results of recent board self-review. The worst: Archer Daniels Midland, scorned by investors for its lack of independence.

It’s just not fare Travel from airports with little competition among airlines tends to cost more, a congressional report concludes. The study of 10 airports where one or two airlines dominate found that fares were substantially higher in most cases than the average at 33 other large airports. Leading the list was Charlotte, N.C., where fares averaged 87.8 percent above other large airports, followed by Cincinnati at 84.5 percent. Of the 10, only New York’s John F. Kennedy International was below the average in fares.