Palm Springs: Retail Woes a Harbinger of the 2024 Economy

Santa had no visitors yesterday late afternoon

Yesterday afternoon we went to a shopping mall called Westfield Palm Desert that we went to around the same time last year. It has a few anchor stores, JC Penny at one end, Macy's the other, and Barnes & Noble bookstore in the middle.

Last year it was pretty busy, lots of people starting their Christmas shopping with Black Friday sales after Thanksgiving. This year? Quite the opposite and perhaps a sign of what the US economy will be like in the coming months and year.

JC Penny was looking very dim and uninviting

We first hit Macy's and I remembered it being very busy last year, with long lines for the fitting room and cashier. This year there were only a handful of shoppers looking at the racks. I scored a dress that was originally US$79.50, and was knocked down 25 percent to US$59.62. 

Because it was on a rack with 30 percent off, the dress was further discounted to US$41.73, plus tax was US$44.96.

And if I don't like it, I can return it by January 31, 2024 as long as the tag is attached and nothing altered.

How to department stores even make money these days?

Maybe they made money from the woman in line behind me who was carrying a heap of clothing ready to buy.

The situation at JC Penny was even more dire -- the lighting was quite dim by around 5pm. It was also even emptier than Macy's. The atmosphere was just really sad, with hardly any staff around and people wandering around the aisles of bland-looking merchandise.

Hardly any shoppers around to snap up discounts

Even Santa Claus was having a slow day. The jolly man in the red suit was sitting on his throne waiting for kids to come take pictures so that their parents could send them to grandparents and relatives, but alas not one child came to tell Santa what he or she wanted for Christmas.

Granted it was November 30 and a weekday, but still!

If Westfield Palm Desert is a harbinger of what's to come, it's not looking good for the retail sector next year...