Shoppers look to store staff as economic barometer

Reuters: U.S. consumers are doing their own research on just how bad the economy is faring, checking to see how well-staffed their favorite stores are as a sign of financial health. For the first time since starting America's Research Group 29 years ago, chairman Britt Beemer said some consumers are now searching store aisles for signs of viability, often seeing fewer salespeople as omens of a retailer's imminent demise.

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