Description: Fueled by gift-card redemptions, clearance sales and almost pitifully easy comparisons, the nation’s retailers seem, on balance, to have posted their fifth straight monthly sales gain in January, according to sales figures released Thursday.

Source: Marketwatch.com

Date: 02/04/2010

Link:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/many-retailers-post-strong-january-sales-gains-2010-02-04?siteid=nwtwk

Questions for discussion:

• Summarize the retailing report.
• Explain how these results suggest the future direction for the economy as a whole.