Retail sales were flat on the North Olympic Peninsula this Christmas season compared with the same time last year, a handful of business owners and customers said Thursday.
Whether in Port Angeles, Sequim or Port Townsend, residents blamed the lackluster performance on everything from slow local and national economies to fears about war, a short shopping season and a poorly performing stock market.
“It’s pretty much flat,” said Jodi Hellman, a director of sales and operations for Swain’s General Store, which has outlets in Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend.
Throughout the nation, retailers on Thursday were predicting one of the weakest holiday seasons in years.
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