Merchants' Take On The Holiday Take

By Josh Rogers on Wednesday, December 26, 2001.

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While the numbers are still being tallied, state shopping malls report holiday retail spending has been better than anticipated and at least as strong as last season. But as NHPR's Josh Rogers learned, the perspective of merchants on Concord's main street was but more varied.

Most Concord merchants willing to talk about this year?s holiday economy ? and more than a third declined to do so ? admitted they really didn?t know what to expect this season. Would shoppers heed the urgings of state and national leaders to fight terrorism by spending money, or would they tighten belts as the economy continues to sputter. By and large, merchants say the season that generally accounts for more than two thirds of their annual sales was a mixed bag.

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Those were the voices of Concord shopkeepers discussing this year?s holiday economy.