Retail Sales are Struggling, But My Evidence Suggests Otherwise

This article from the New York Times suggests that people are buying their back to school clothes at discount stores like Costco and Wal-Mart instead of apparel stores like Abercrombie and Fitch and Pac Sun.  The reason for this, as it is with everything else now, is the high cost of gas and food.  

As you might know, I was in NYC the other day.  We walked past the Abercrombie and Fitch on 5th avenue, with its cologne-scented air conditioning and techno music pouring out of the front doors onto the sidewalk.  Did the sales people look bored because no one was coming into their store? No.  Was dust accumulating on the stacks of their infamous ass-bearing mini skirts? Quite the contrary. 

Apparently, New York City operates differently than the rest of the country.

There was a line outside of the door of people waiting to get in.  A LINE.  It went around the side of the building.  I had to take a picture:

This is surprising not only because of peoples' thinning wallets, but also because there is an A+F in EVERY SINGLE MALL from here to California.  Of all the stores NY has to offer, you're gonna WAIT IN A LINE to go to a store you have at your local mall???  Come on, people.

I'm assuming these people were all European because for some reason, Europeans think A+F is just the coolest thing around...I guess because they don't have it over there.  But still.  

I'll stop complaining, they're helping our economy.  HA.