The Christmas Shopping Season Highlights The Gap Between The Rich And The Poor In The United States.

Adriana Garcia will not buy for her family this year Christmas Gifts.

Garcia, a 26 year old woman in California, lost her teacher last year. assistant Now work part-time at Jamba Juice (JMBA.O: market) near Losangeles juice chain.

Her husband is a security guard, but since he was injured three months ago, he has been unable to work and has not yet been disabled. inspect 。 The couple's main expenses are food and rent.

Garcia said, "I really don't care about gifts. "

Kelly Lenehan, 40, is an ultrasound technician from Losangeles. He used to be a paparazzi reporter. She just lost her job as a technician in early November, and now plans to spend a low key Christmas.

"Things will not go the way I want," she said. "

Two weeks ago, the "black Friday" after Thanksgiving Day, when many Americans rushed into the shops to purchase their stores, the volume of transactions on that day set a record. It also disguised the survival of many Americans who are still struggling in life.

Us department store chain Kohl 's Corp, apparel retailer Gap Inc (GPS.N: quotes) Old Navy and J.C. Penney Co Co

(JCP.N: quotes) retailers' sales declined in November, proving that consumers are more thrifty than TV shopping shows. At the same time, Dollar General (DG.N:)

Market discount chains are hot.

National Retail Federation expects retail sales to increase by 2.8% this Christmas, down from 5.2% last year.

In contrast, Sax Saks (Fifth Avenue Avenue) and Nordstrom (Fifth)

Sales of luxury goods retailers such as Inc surged, and their sales in November showed that Christmas sales have been "hit the nail on the head."

Andrew Rothstein, a 40 year old investment banker, procured at Sax's Fifth Avenue flagship store in Manhattan last week. He said, "I am doing well this year, so I feel good. "

The unemployment rate fell to 8.6% last month, in part because many job seekers gave up finding jobs. The increase in the cost of food and fuel has also exacerbated consumption and delayed the recovery of consumer spending.

Adam, a retired 64 year old man

Morales lives on fixed income. He says he will not spend too much money on gifts for five children and seven grandchildren this year. "The cost of living has gone up too much," he said. Last year, my gifts for my family averaged around $25 per person, and my budget this year is $10 per person. "

Even many people are careful to save social spending. Aldo Inoster, a securities trader living in Queens, New York, will only send gifts to family members this Christmas.

50 year old Inoster thanksgiving day shopping at the Old Navy store in Herald Square, New York, said: "businesses have to offer a big discount before we can afford to pay. "