Desperate Retailers Offer 24-Hour Shopping

With the holiday shopping season on track to be the worst in decades, more struggling retailers like Toys "R" Us, Macy's, and Wal-Mart are opting to keep their doors open 24 hours the last few days, hoping to entice last-minute shoppers and night-owls, reports the Wall Street Journal. "In this kind of environment, you do whatever it takes," says one economist.

Analysts say retail sales are down 2% from a year ago for the 6 weeks to Dec. 13, and this past weekend, which usually brings in 11.5% of the season’s sales, is shaping up to be woeful. So gambling on the 16% of people who say they like late hours is logical—"People would be surprised at how little it costs" to stay open, says one industry watcher.
(More holiday shopping stories.)