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SALT LAKE CITY -- From Cyber Monday to Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday: the all-important holiday shopping season is now in full swing. So how does it bode for the larger economy?
The early numbers, projections and anecdotes for the first holiday shopping weekend of the season seem promising. Stocks were up sharply today too. Is this a good economic sign as the end of 2011 approaches? Undoubtedly. But economists are worried about other long-term trends.
Candice Madsen mom says shopping at The King's English, a local bookstore in Sugarhouse, is an easy choice.
"I'm a big local fan. I spent a lot of Christmases right here in this store, spending my dollars as my votes for local business. So I'm a big believer in going local and keeping it in the community," Madsen said.
The King's English is an enthusiastic participant in both the Buy Local Utah movement and Small Business Saturday, a national marketing push to urge folks spend their holiday dollars in their own hometown, hopefully helping spark the larger economy.
"It feels like it's improving. We started getting busy the beginning of November, but last weekend and a little bit before that, it's really picked up," said general manager Anne Holman.
'Small Business Saturday' turns shoppers to local businesses
Wedged between the shoppers who were out for Black Friday and the ones who will go online for Cyber Monday is Small Business Saturday."I think people are starting to understand that you're not just supporting your local business down the street, you're supporting your local economy and your community," said owner Betsy Burton.
Just a few blocks away, at Westminster College, huge screens track the economy's daily ups and downs. Economist Aric Krause is taking a wait and see attitude about Holiday 2012.
"I think it's a little bit too early to be jumping for joy. We've seen one or two days of shopping and it's neat to see the retail sales are up seven percent over the weekend. But there's no way of telling what that's going to look like between now and the rest of the holiday," said Krause.
For big signs of recovery, he's watching the housing market and jobs.
"What we need is permanent, real jobs that give people real permanent incomes to spend, and we're not seeing that occurring underlying all of this good news," Krause said.
Back at the King's English, they're ready to turn the page on the down economy, by winning new customers one reader at a time.
"I think the economy is starting to gradually strengthen. I also think that real book buyers, it is like buying groceries, they can't live without books," Burton said.
Email: [jdaley@ksl.com](<mailto: jdaley@ksl.com>)
