retail spin.

Retail Rush Falls Short, Now Come More Sales

retail sales increased a lackluster 2.4%. Industry forecasts had predicted gains of 3.5% to as high as 4.5%.

Perhaps the season's biggest loser was women's apparel, which declined 2.4% despite a late rally

Gift cards..... you know what the bad side of that is? that you spend what you budgeted... so you budget $20 for a friend, and that is all you spend, instead of 24.50 or whatever.....

BlackRock Cash Fund Is Downgraded For Suspending Certain Redemptions

The fund isn't a money-market fund, but instead is a similar type of product -- known as an "enhanced" cash fund -- that seeks to offer higher yield to investors through a variety of shorter-term investments.

Holiday Spending Is Weak, as Retailers Expected

Christmas rose just 3.6 percent over last year, the weakest performance in at least four years,

I may sneak out this morning and go vulture shop......
not like I want anything... I could use some shirts. maybe some outdoor gear.

I saw a Yahoo ..... Oh here it is...
Reuters trys to spin things to the upside.
U.S. Retailers holiday sales up.