Retailers looking for last-minute holiday sales rush

Retailers said the holiday shopping season started strong in November but has slowed somewhat in the first half of December — but they're hopeful procrastinating shoppers will bring them up to the good sales levels of last year by the end of the week.ShopperTrak, a Chicago research firm, and the National Retail Federation both recently upgraded their holiday sales forecast. ShopperTrak now believes sales for the November and December period combined will rise 3.7 percent. That's up from the original 3 percent growth forecast issued in September when the economy's recovery looked more uncertain.

Have you ever Heard Mysterious Fashion Pandora beads ? The 3.7 percent forecast is still below the 4.1 percent growth registered in the year-ago period, according to ShopperTrak's measure.The NRF said it now expects holiday sales to rise 3.8 percent, up from the 2.8 percent forecast made in early October.Many local retailers said December sales are running about the same as last year, which was up from the previous few years, so they can't complain too much."Sales seem to be about even to last year," said Richard McDonald, manager for the Belk store at Parkway Plaza. "I think these last few days we're going to see a big pickup.

"This week is when we'll see all the men come in with the glazed look in their eyes," he said with a laugh, noting that many men tend to be last-minute shoppers.With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, McDonald predicted Friday and Saturday to be especially high-volume days. He noted the Belk store has extended its hours for those last-minute shoppers, too, with the store open from 7 a.m. to midnight Wednesday through Friday and 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.