Happy New Year!!! or not, especially if you are a retailer. Dismal sales figures resulted during December as shoppers' fears of a continued recession become more of a reality. There were numerous shoppers out in the stores, but not many carrying bags. Those that did buy, bought only deeply discounted items. Retailers lured customers in with crazy deals and discounts, but even Wal-Mart was hurt by the current deteriorating economy. With the economy in its current poor condition, all businesses are facing an increasing challenge of getting shoppers in the door and getting them to leave with a purchase. Even the wealthy are looking for more value, as luxury stores were hit hard during the month. Value and necessities are the main focus for the majority of consumers these days and unfortunately that eliminates many retailers from gaining any traffic. As we head into a new year, it appears that it will continue to be a challenging environment across the board. With ever-rising unemployment numbers and food costs, many are staying at home and making due with what they already have.