Nationally, the economy is in a recession and retail sales in December were up less than 2 percent over last year.

Monday, December 31, 2001

Nationally, the economy is in a recession and retail sales in December were up less than 2 percent over last year. Some of that sluggish spending can be seen here in Albert Lea and Freeborn County, but, according to many local retailers, consumers seemed less interested in bad news and more interested in shopping this December.

The mood seems to be one of cautious optimism, according to local retailers. Many businesses report average to above average sales for December, although final figures won’t be in for a few weeks.

&uot;We did as much business as last year,&uot; said Grace Haukoos, owner of the Constant Reader book store in downtown Albert Lea. &uot;In light of the economy, we did great,&uot; she said.

Further down the street, at Art on Broadway and the Albert Lea Art Center, Annette Oswald, Art Center Coordinator, said business really picked up over last year, both in the shop and with donations to the Art Center.

&uot;People seemed to be more in the Christmas spirit this year, they seemed to be reflecting on what it means,&uot; Oswald said.

Sterling Drug, another downtown business, saw sales that were actually up a bit over last December, according to John Locher, store manager. Although sales on seasonal items were down some, sales of gifts and other items were up, he said.

Sales were slower at Johnny’s Computer and Hobbies, where Greg Sundholm, the store owner, also noticed a change from the usual pattern of shopping.

&uot;The shopping trend was the opposite of normal. It was slow after Thanksgiving, and then it really picked up four or five days before Christmas,&uot; Sundholm said.

Out at Northbridge Mall, retail news was also mixed, with the same cautious optimism as seen in downtown businesses.

Cammi Anderson, manager at Claire’s, said that sales have been mostly even with last year or a little better.

&uot;My feeling is that we actually had fewer customers, but that the sales were higher,&uot; said Anderson.

Sales at Leuthold’s, another Northbridge Mall retailer, were down, but it was also a challenging year overall, said store owner Bill Hertling.

&uot;You always hope for gains, year after year, and that doesn’t always happen,&uot; said Hertling. The tragedy on Sept. 11 and the warm weather in December were both factors that caused complications, he added.

Hertling was one merchant who was prepared for a possible weak retail season, and so was more cautious about ordering from vendors.

So what’s it all mean locally?

&uot;What I hear from around town is that things are mostly about the same or maybe a little better than last year,&uot; said Allen Pelvit, Director of the Albert Lea Chamber of Commerce. His assessment, after 12 years of experience working on chamber issues, is that smaller, rural communities like Albert Lea are sometimes more insulated from the big downturns in the economy felt in larger communities. People’s perspective here is also different, which may also help explain why things here aren’t has bad as they are in bigger cities, he explains.

&uot;We live a different lifestyle here. We don’t always pay as much attention to the negative news that’s out there,&uot; Pelvit said.