With back-to-school sales going strong, shoppers were there snapping up the deals and preparing their families for the new school year. As the retailers reported better-than-expected sales results, winners crossed all sections of the industry. This was in spite of escalating credit problems and a weakening housing market. The month was marked with news headlines chronicling the growing numbers of mortgage defaults and financial market turmoil. Results for the month were helped by a few factors; classes starting later, which resulted in later back-to-school purchases so that teens could wait and see what they should by based on what their peers were wearing and a shift in the tax-fee sales week to August in Florid and Texas. While results exceeded expectations, they represent only a one-month snapshot of an industry that still is plagued by concerns that shoppers may be hit by more housing and credit-related troubles. Overall, the results for the month were still down compared to a year ago and this is the trend that has been in effect since February. Many are watching September to get a better idea of the consumer's spending, hoping that results are steady. Especially as the holiday season is right around the corner, which is when many retailers make up most of their annual revenue. The question becomes, when will shoppers drop????