According to a recent survey from the National Retail Federation, Thanksgiving sales dropped by 11 percent this year. While this might sound like an alarming figure, some economists would argue that 2014 sales aren't nearly as bad as they seem.
This hour, we talk to some retail experts about the latest holiday shopping trends. We find out how sales are doing, and what they mean for the overall health of our economy.
Later in the program, we also present the next installment in our new series, Topline. This week, we take a closer look at American attitudes toward local business.
GUESTS:
- Jim O'Sullivan - Chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics
- Sarah Halzack - National retail reporter for The Washington Post
- Dr. Jane Thomas - Professor of Marketing at Winthrop University
- Kathleen Weldon - Research manager for the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research at UConn
John Dankosky and Chion Wolf contributed to this show.