Slow spending to slam retailers

Industry forecast expects 2008 sales growth to be weakest in 6 years as economic slowdown pinches consumers.

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By Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney.com senior writer

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Retail sales in 2008 will suffer their weakest pace of growth in six years as Americans struggle with rising unemployment, worsening housing and credit market conditions and higher food and energy costs in the months ahead., according to an industry forecast released Monday.

The National Retail Federation (NRF), in its annual economic outlook, said it expects full-year sales this year to grow 3.5 percent, the slowest increase since 2002 when sales grew 3 percent.

"Consumers will be under financial stress from high energy costs, the fallout from the housing slump, and sluggish employment and income growth," said NRF chief economist Rosalind Wells.

"Shoppers will seek to pay down debt, spend more in line with income growth, and approach discretionary purchases with more restraint," she said.

Wells said the constant speculation about whether the economy is heading into or already in a recession also negatively impacts consumer sentiment.

"It makes consumers nervous. Recession isn't a sure thing but we know that they're already feeling the slow growth in the economy," she said.

She said retailers across the board, from luxury to online sellers, will feel the pressure as more practical consumers trade down in prices.

"In 2008, the challenges will be formidable for everyone," she said.

While the first-half of the year will be sluggish, Wells expects a sales pickup in the third and fourth quarters.

The fourth quarter is a critical period for the industry since it includes the holiday shopping months of November and December. Those two months account for as much as half of merchants' annual profits and sales.

"We expect interest rate cuts and perhaps a fiscal stimulus package [this year] to boost the economy in the second half," Wells said. To top of page

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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.