Many more store closings, more bad times ahead!

Some have said the slump in the economy might be at the trough of the slowdown and we should expect a recovery to start at anytime. I was hoping for the same but after I received an email from a friend that listed many major retail stores that are scheduled to close their doors I'm not so sure we've even close. I verified a few of these store closings in case the email was fraudulent. I don't know about you but when I saw this list I immediately foresaw a series of further declines on Wall Street each day these stores close their doors for good.

Here is the list of stores closing some locations or closing completely:

• Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide are to be shuttered
• Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug,and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide
• Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
• Cache will close all stores
• Talbots closing down all stores
• J. Jill closing all stores
• GAP closing 85 stores
• Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
• Wickes Furniture closing down
• Levitz closing down remaining stores
• Bombay closing remaining stores
• Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January.
• Whitehall closing all stores
• Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
• Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
• Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ (New Brunswick)
• Macys to close 9 stores after January
• Linens and Things closing all stores
• Movie Galley Closing all stores
• Pacific Sunware closing stores
• Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
• Sprint/ Nextel closing 133 stores
• JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
• Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
• Wilson Leather closing down all stores
• Sharper Image closing down all stores
• K B Toys closing 356 stores
• Lowes to close down some stores
• Dillard's to close some stores

A few these stores that are closing in Paducah occupy buildings that cost tens of thousands of dollars in rent each month. It's hard to imagine these stores could pay that much money in rent, employees, utilities, supplies, inventory, etc..

On the brighter side, compared to what we've been paying for gas I feel like the oil companies are practically give it away now. On top of the lower prices I used a discount from a local SuperValue today. They provide a discount on their gas when you receive certain products in the store. With the two discount receipts I had I saved 48 cents on gas with a 15 gallon limit. I filled up my Lincoln Navigator for just $1.02 per gallon!