SUPPOSE A NOSY JOURNALIST snooped through your closet today. Naturally, she'd find the latest spring fashions - pulled straight from the racks at Barneys and Neiman Marcus - displayed on your hangers, right? If you're anything like most of us, probably not. Retail sales during the Christmas shopping season slipped 3% from the same period in 2007, and the National Retail Federation projects a 0.5% decline in sales for all of 2009. Linens 'n Things, Circuit City, KB Toys and Sharper Image are just a few of the household names that have already succumbed to the hostile climate. Stalwarts such as Home Depot and Macy's are laying off thousands of employees.
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