[digby723]

To be hoenst, a lot of the stores that are closing are probably ones that have another store very close to them! As someone mentioned above, a mall near them had two gaps in it! It's unneccessary! Home Depot is like this as well. Because most of the bigger named hardware stores went out of buisness, HD took advantage and sprung one up everywhere, even if another one was 10 mins away. They did it b/c they could, but, now they're not making enough to make ends meet. Ie, they're paying more than what that store is earning. Companies should think long and hard before just opening stores whenever and wherever they can. They will have to face the music one day, that day is now. When the economy gets back into the swng of things, these stores will open more chains, and this will be a repeating cycle. I live in a very populated area, and I seriouslly doubt this will affect me at all, but, I feel bad for the people who it will affect. My grandparents are a classic example. Nearest town next to them with these types of shops is about 30-40 miles away and that town is probably where stoers will close. It sucks for them because then they will have to drive further away, wasting more gas, just go get basics that they need.

[guccimamma]

yup recession is here.

we stop spending, stores start closing, people lose jobs, people don't pay mortgages, homes go into foreclosure, everybody's value drops, harder to get loans because of declining value

dollar value drops, gas gets $$$, people don't drive, vacations don't happen, more people lose jobs....it just keeps going

what will turn it around for us??? lower gas prices? not sure that will happen

[Jahpson]

i definitely agree that we are in a recession.

can you blame the consumers though? prices are rising! its getting ridiculous

[kcf68]

Retailers are claiming they are getting way more business on the international front and are focusing on stores that are overseas! Apparently, the USA has gone down in the retail front. Recession indeed!