Everyday Low Prices

In the pre-Christmas third quarter of 2000, discount stores collected 70 percent of total retail sales. In a 10.5 percent improvement over the same period of 1999, discount sales rose to $53.2 billion, according to the economics trends analysis of the International Mass Retail Association. While quarterly sales were higher than a year ago, however, IMRA reports that sales dropped from the second quarter's $53.8 billion. (Total retail sales also declined from the second quarter.)

“Discount stores are more acceptable to mainstream society, and some are even fashionable,” noted the IMRA report. “It's not uncommon for the same customer to shop both Neiman Marcus and Target these days.”

IMRA's figures for the all-important fourth quarter – containing holiday season results – will not be available for several weeks.