What the dollar stores’ stumbles say about the economy

Saving money: People shop at a grocery supermarket in Alhambra, California. Consumer confidence in the United States is at its lowest in six months. — AFP

THERE’S an adage in retail that dollar stores do well in economic downturns. Not this downturn.

A line of retail executives from Home Depot Inc to Target Corp and Costco Wholesale Corp have recently intoned on the reluctant shopper.