Like the last of the dead Christmas trees finally being cleared off city sidewalks, retailers’ hopes for the holiday selling season are all dried up.
Last Wednesday, the Commerce Department reported a steep 0.9 percent drop in overall retail sales for December, with declines in almost every category. Without a compelling fashion trend to spark sales, revenues at clothing stores dropped 0.3 percent, while even the hottest gadgets of 2014 couldn’t prevent a 1.6 percent slide in electronics.