var json_comments = new Array("<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-3212162\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=133108\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-133108-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=133108\">realjen01</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3212162\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-05T23:41:57-05:00\">December  5, 2007 11:41 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3212162);\">Moderate</a> |</span>	<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://consumerist.com/mt-static/plugins/Moderate/moderate.js\"></script>	<script type=\"text/javascript\">		successMsg = \"\";	</script><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3212162');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>i consider dec. 24 \"waiting until the last minute\". even so, that's how i roll.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3212162, 'realjen01')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-3212313\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=196283\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-196283-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=196283\">HRHKingFriday</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3212313\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-05T23:55:35-05:00\">December  5, 2007 11:55 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3212313);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3212313');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>Aside from the dirt cheap deals I got on Black Friday, I'm playing chicken with the rest of the smaller items. I'll either wait until the retailers cry uncle, or (if they don't) I'll just get iTunes gift cards.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3212313, 'HRHKingFriday')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-3212781\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=26707\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=26707\">swalve</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3212781\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-06T00:35:37-05:00\">December  6, 2007 12:35 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3212781);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3212781');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Sort of a meaningless number.  Are people buying less stuff, or are prices lower?  How does it break down per retail segment?</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3212781, 'swalve')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-3212913\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=188304\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-188304-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=188304\">parad0x360</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3212913\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-06T00:47:36-05:00\">December  6, 2007 12:47 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3212913);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3212913');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>While i do believe this report it doesnt hold true for every store.  The Target I work in made about 300k more this year then last, and we had met last years total day sales by 11am this year.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3212913, 'parad0x360')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-3212999\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">rouftop    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3212999\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-06T00:53:38-05:00\">December  6, 2007 12:53 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3212999);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3212999');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>It's shopping at the last minute if you're Jewish!  Chanukah started on the 5th.</p><p>Mmmm, latkes and gelt.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3212999, 'rouftop')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-3214157\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=142838\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-142838-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=142838\">schiff</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3214157\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-06T03:24:08-05:00\">December  6, 2007  3:24 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3214157);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3214157');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>With how bestbuy and circuit city have treated mein the last 2 days, I returned anything I got from them and bought it from amazon. BTW, bestbuy is not matching the website prices of bestbuy.com in their westbury store.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3214157, 'schiff')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-3215670\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">                <a href=\"\"><img src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"         width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>            </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\">iamme99    </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3215670\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-06T08:24:51-05:00\">December  6, 2007  8:24 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3215670);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3215670');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>FRY's won't match their online prices in their stores either.</p><p>I am holding out for a new digital camera.  I may wait until January to buy when I know the prices will be lower.</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3215670, 'iamme99')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-3215735\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=85245\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=85245\">purkinje</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3215735\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-06T08:53:20-05:00\">December  6, 2007  8:53 AM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3215735);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3215735');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>Sure, and for the previous week (ending 11/24) sales were <a href=\"http://www.shoppertrak.com/news_retail_sales_112807.php\" rel=\"nofollow\">up 3.7%</a> compared to same period a year ago. For Black Friday weekend, sales were <a href=\"http://www.shoppertrak.com/news_retail_sales_112807.php\" rel=\"nofollow\">up 6.5%</a> compared with 2006. And the week before that (ending 11/17) sales were <a href=\"http://www.shoppertrak.com/news_retail_sales_112007.php\" rel=\"nofollow\">up 5.4%</a> compared to the same period a year ago. Sales were down in October, up in September, <a href=\"http://www.shoppertrak.com/news_press_releases.php\" rel=\"nofollow\">and so on.</a><br /><br />The take-home message: it's really not a good idea to try to describe a time series using a single data point.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3215735, 'purkinje')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-3216342\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=247652\"><img        src=\"/css/images/default.gif\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=247652\">nutrigm</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3216342\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-06T13:32:15-05:00\">December  6, 2007  1:32 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3216342);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3216342');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>I can't say about others but being a retailer myself I found sales the past 2 months to be rather slow, however things seems to be picking up now. I can only hope it will get better as time goes by.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3216342, 'nutrigm')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment\" id=\"comment-3216512\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=103878\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-103878-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=103878\">ARP</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3216512\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-06T14:00:32-05:00\">December  6, 2007  2:00 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3216512);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3216512');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p><p>PURKINJE- Thanks for the additional context. My prediction is that sales will be up slightly from last year (not the 5% or so they usually predict). I think much of this is fueled by consumer debt (read: credit cards) as the Home Equity route has dried up for many. Sales at discount retailers (except Wal-Mart) and high-end stores will be up. The mid-range will get eaten alive. There will be the ocasional blip for popular brands (A&amp;F, Hollister, etc.). After the Holidays, it's anyone's guess.</p></p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3216512, 'ARP')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>","<div class=\"comments-content\">        <div class=\"comment last\" id=\"comment-3216867\">    <div class=\"inner\">	 <div class=\"user-pic\">        <a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;amp;blog_id=1&amp;amp;id=131723\"><img        src=\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-131723-100x100.png\"        width=\"60\" height=\"60\" alt=\"user-pic\" /></a>    </div>        <div class=\"comment-header\">            <div class=\"asset-meta\"> <div class=\"vcard author\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=1&amp;id=131723\">theblackdog</a>        </div>				<div class=\"comment-date\"><a href=\"http://consumerist.com/2007/12/shoppers-chill-out-retail-sales-down-44-from-last-year.html#comment-3216867\"><abbr class=\"published\" title=\"2007-12-06T14:33:22-05:00\">December  6, 2007  2:33 PM</abbr></a></div>				<div class=\"comment-moderate\"><span><a href=\"javascript:moderateComment(3216867);\">Moderate</a> |</span><a href='javascript:void(0)' onClick=\"return moderate(this, 'http://consumerist.com/cgi-bin/mt/plugins/Moderate/moderate.cgi?__mode=flag&comment_id=3216867');\">Flag for review</a></div>            </div>        </div><!-- end comment header -->        <div class=\"comment-content\">            <p>Oh I know my spending is down this Christmas since I kicked my deadbeat boyfriend to the curb a while back.</p><p>It's nice having money that you can spend on yourself any time :-D</p>        </div>	<div class=\"reply\">	 <div class=\"reply-button\"><a title=\"Reply\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\" onclick=\"mtReplyCommentOnClick(3216867, 'theblackdog')\">Reply</a></div>		<!-- if it's a top level category ' -->		    </div><!-- end reply- button -->    </div></div>        <!-- Display comment (top level parent) -->    </div>");


