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Mall's holiday sales fall 2.3 percent from last year Rogue Valley Mall had a 2.3 percent decrease in sales for the holiday period from Nov. 23 through Dec. 24 compared to the previous year. The sales tracking system excludes the three large department stores, but includes about 75 percent of all other stores. Many consumers may have delayed purchases until just before or after Christmas to take advantage of sales, said Jill Ditty, mall marketing manager. Day-after sales increased 11.2 percent compared to the same day last year. Sales on the Sunday before Christmas were up 73 percent compared to 2000. Sales at 4,000 specialty stores in 80 regional malls across the United States were up 2.1 percent compared to 2000, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. Their figures also exclude department stores. Department stores Mervyn's and JC Penney at the mall reported increased sales this year. Electronics outlets had the biggest sales gain, 20.9 percent. Fine jewelry showed the sharpest decrease at 23.7 percent. The jewelry category may have been affected by the sale of a $51,000 Rolex watch at the mall last year, Ditty said. Other categories were food court, down 5 percent; shoes, up 2.6 percent; cards, gifts and books, up 4.6 percent, and family apparel, down 2.6 percent. Home furnishings, possibly affected by the closure of Lechters Housewares, were down 4.3 percent. "The winter storms really took their toll, especially early in the season when I-5 was closed or had conditional closures," said Ditty. "We depend on a secondary market of Redding, Yreka, Brookings and Klamath Falls." Oregon's lack of a sales tax attracts the California customers, said Ditty. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.