Will the Shutdown Have a Lasting Impact on Consumers?

Q: Although the government shutdown is over for now, (thank goodness!) I’m hearing some analysts say that it has really shaken consumer confidence. Do you think this uncertainty will continue to affect fall/holiday sales?

A: Good question. Keep in mind that the holiday season is very locally driven. So, if your community has been affected by furloughs related to the government shutdown you are more likely to see an impact. However, the good news is that we haven’t seen any data that would lead us to believe there has been a negative impact to our stores’ sales trends, at least not yet. Keep positive and let us know how it goes.