By Associated Press
Undated, AL – High gasoline prices may keep Alabama shoppers closer to home when the post-Thanksgiving gift-buying stampede hits Friday.
According to industry experts, shoppers will be looking for bargains.
Nancy Dennis, a spokeswoman with the Alabama Retail Association, said retailers statewide have generally experienced good retail growth this year and many are optimistic.
UAB marketing professor Mickey Gee Senior, a longtime retailer, said that the ups and downs of the stock market coupled with low unemployment -- a record 3.1 percent in Alabama last month -- means shoppers will turn out in stores, but he's not sure when.
He said if consumers do delay shopping this week, retailers could ''hit the panic button'' and slash prices as Christmas approaches.
''Black Friday'' -- the day after Thanksgiving -- receives most of the attention, but Gee said many retailers are busiest during the last two weeks before Christmas. Since the holiday falls on a Tuesday this year. Gee said the weekend before Christmas should be red hot.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)