The Sky Is Falling?

Out west, word is brewing that clothing retailer Mervyns might be heading for the exits. Popular in California and other western states, Mervyns is an alternative to Kohls, which recently launched a campaign to gain a foothold in the same areas serviced by Mervyns.

Of course all of this comes on the heels of recent reductions and bankruptcy considerations by chains such as Ann Taylor, Steve and Barry's, Shoe Pavillion, Starbucks, Linens 'n Things, and other popular commercial names. As reported on in this blog, things in the U.S. have been standing at neutral or perhaps a bit in reverse in recent months. Credit is tight and stores, banks, and other enterprises are having difficulty in paying their bills.

For those pushing for a Democratic victory in the fall, bad news at this time is probably good news in the long run. If it is the "economy stupid", than Obama and his friends will romp to victory. However, if this is as bad as it gets and perhaps things straighten out just a bit in September and October, the economy might not be the number one issue. This would be a blessing for Senator McCain and the GOP.

However one looks at the current state of things, we should caution that store closings and the loss of familiar brands are nothing new. When is the last time any of us shopped at a Woolworths? How about Montgomery Ward? Has anyone purchased a new car from American Motors? And where is Pan Am?

So yes, it is belt tightening time. Americans have taken heed of the situation and that is one of the reasons that Starbucks has decided to shutter some 600 of its stores that claim customer purchases at a quick $4 a pop. One does not want the unemployment lines to grow any larger and one does not want to see too many shuttered retail spaces at the local mall. This is an anxious moment in our nation's economic history. A slowdown in the rise of oil prices and an end to a crippling mortgage crisis could keep things running a bit smoother and we will look back at this time as a weak recession that caught some of our favorite retailers unprepared. But if oil and housing do not cooperate soon, this trickle of bankruptcy announcements will become a steady downpour leading to a flood of gloom that we might not know how to navigate so well in.