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CNN Live Saturday

Holiday Shoppers Crowd Malls Across U.S.

Aired December 22, 2001 - 15:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: It's not too late to finish off that shopping list. But today you'll be doing it at great risk. Today is one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

And with a look at the craziness from Los Angeles, you can see there -- but of course L.A. ain't alone. Let's go to CNN's Brian Palmer, who's in New York at the mall of Manhattan.

I have to know Brian, are you squeezing in a little shopping in between your live shots today?

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely not, Catherine. This is not my shopping day. There are zillions of other people here, though, doing exactly that.

It was so quiet this morning you could have stretched a blanket out on the floor and had a little nap and not have been disturbed. Now the shoppers are coming out of the woodwork, which is exactly what retailers need. If you look at the surveys from last month and up until this month, things are either slow or slipping. For retailers, that's really a bad thing because they make about 20 to 30 percent of their profits during this month.

They're slashing prices, there are discount sales, rebates. A great thing for shoppers, but perhaps not so great for retail.

We're actually joined by some shoppers today. Danny Nieves (ph) and his mom Rosa.

What kind of bargains are you looking for today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we're looking for sweaters, toys. I have a lot of nieces and nephews, so we're looking for a lot of toys, basically.

PALMER: Now, the economy is not what it has been in the past. Are you spending more or less than you spent in the past?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I'm spending less. Like I said, I have a big family, so I have a budget, and I'm trying to really stick to that budget right now.

PALMER: Thank you very much.

Well, it appears that everybody is pretty -- sticking pretty tightly to their budgets.

Catherine, back to you.

CALLAWAY: CNN's Brian Palmer. Thanks Brian.

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