Retail spending down in September

Retail spending was down in September, for the third month in a row, according
to the federal Commerce Department. Sales fell 2.3 percent in clothing stores, and 1.2 percent overall from August. Some
fear that the third quarter of 2008 will show the first quarterly decline in
consumer spending in years. Retailers are hoping Halloween will bring in more
shoppers. Americans plan to spend on average $47 dollars per household for candy and decorations for the
holiday, an 18 percent increase from last year, according a survey by Visa Inc.