[snakeoil]

If the economy is improving, then why are many of the largest retail chains in America closing hundreds of stores? When I was growing up, Sears, J.C. Penney, Best Buy and RadioShack were all considered to be unstoppable retail powerhouses. But now it is being projected that all of them will close hundreds of stores before the end of 2013. Even Wal-Mart is running into problems. A recent internal Wal-Mart memo that was leaked to Bloomberg described February sales as a “total disaster”. So why is this happening? Why are major retail chains all over America collapsing? Is the “retail apocalypse” upon us? Well, the truth is that this is just another sign that the U.S. economy is falling apart right in front of our eyes. Incomes are declining, taxes are going up, government dependence is at an all-time high, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the percentage of the U.S. labor force that is employed has been steadily falling since 2006. The top 10% of all income earners in the U.S. are still doing very well, but most U.S. consumers are either flat broke or are drowning in debt. The large disposable incomes that the big retail chains have depended upon in the past simply are not there anymore. So retail chains all over the United States are now closing up unprofitable stores. This is especially true in low income areas.

When you step back and take a look at the bigger picture, the rapid decline of some of our largest retail chains really is stunning.

It is happening already in some areas, but soon half empty malls and boarded up storefronts will litter the landscapes of cities all over America.

http://www.infowars.com/retail-apocalyp ... ollapsing/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is an article that should be read by all. There is much more to the article than my quote.

[BilboBagend]

Amazon and it's partners as well as similar low price retailers.

A large number of reasons.

Product selection
Product quality
Service quality
Price
Staffing
Brick and mortar costs
Death spiral decisions

This is what happens in a rapidly changing economy, let alone one in which the politicians in control of the country are intentionally killing the economy. Kill the middle class, cut wages, create uncertainty, all kill the economy and therefore businesses. Middle class spending drives the economy and business health. If you concentrate wealth as dead capital in the hands of the very few, this is what you get.

You reap what you sow.

[snakeoil]

Bilbo-I have to agree with everything in your reply. For the life of me, I can't understand why the GOP (and others) keep trying to eliminate the middle-class.

[Leroy]

Bilbo-I have to agree with everything in your reply. For the life of me, I can't understand why the GOP (and others) keep trying to eliminate the middle-class.

Maybe you should ask yourself why the Democrats, who have had the Majority since 2006, have not done ANYTHING to improve the economy, have not done anything to benefit the working class, have not done anything to produce a Balanced Budget, and only keep spending the country (working class) into poverty.

You don't create a strong economy by implementing socialist programs of public assistance, you create a strong economy by embracing freedom, business, and personal responsibility - all things counter to Democrat principals.

[brandon]

I remember the almost daily posts of how much the lefties here hated WalMart and such.

And how they looked down on the people who shopped there.