Weakest shopping season in decades

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The 2008 holiday shopping season was the weakest the United States has seen in decades.

A new report by SpendingPulse found Retailers' sales fell by as much as four percent.

Clothing stores took the biggest hit- women's apparel sales fell by 22.7 percent; men's clothing sales dropped by 14.3 percent.

Arlene Putnam, General Manager of the Eastfield Mall in Springfield said stores started seeing a drop in sales beginning the first part of November.  Putnam said stores like the Games Stop and Jewelry retailers didn't seem to be effected by the shopping slump.