Customers look at wide screen televisions at a Costco store in Mountain View, Calif. , Thursday, June 7, 2007. Americans shopped hesitantly in May, giving retailers some relief from a dismal showing in April but still raising questions about how strong consumer spending will be in the months ahead. As the nation's merchants reported results Thursday, the disappointments included Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , Macy's Inc. and teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Costco Wholesale Corp. , Kohl's Corp. and luxury retailers like Saks Inc. beat expectations. AP Photo logo AP Photo 29 months ago

Customers look at wide screen televisions at a Costco store in Mountain View, Calif. , Thursday, June 7, 2007. Americans shopped hesitantly in May, giving retailers some relief from a dismal showing in April but still raising questions about how strong consumer spending will be in the months ahead. As the nation's merchants reported results Thursday, the disappointments included Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , Macy's Inc. and teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Costco Wholesale Corp. , Kohl's Corp. and luxury retailers like Saks Inc. beat expectations.

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  1. SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 18: A Costco customer looks at a display of LCD HDTV televisions November 18, 2009 in San Francisco, California. The California Energy Commission voted unanimously to require all new televisions over 58 inches to be more energy efficient beginning in 2011. California became the first state in the nation to impose such stricts regulations in an effort to conserve energy and protect the environment.
  2. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: In this photo illustration, a copy of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' sits on end on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  3. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: In this photo illustration, a copy of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' sits on end on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  4. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) open boxes of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' as other books sit on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  5. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Matt Cross (R) puts copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  6. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  7. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Gary Haynes (R) and Matt Cross (L) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  8. OREM, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Kathrina Norris (L) and Matt Cross (R) put copies of Sarah Palin's book 'Going Rogue' on a display in the back room of a Costco November 16, 2009 in Orem, Utah. The Orem Costco received between 800-900 copies of the book which will go on sale tomorrow.
  9. Wal-Mart Stores CEO Mike Duke (L) confers with and Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent (R) during the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Cinton Global Initative (CGI) in New York September 22, 2009.
  10. NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 22: Mike Duke, President and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores (L), and Muhtar Kent, President and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company participate in the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) on September 22, 2009 in New York City. The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together leaders in politics, business, science, academics and religion to discuss global issues such as climate change and peace in the Middle East.
  11. Shoppers pick up wide screen television sets at a Walmart store in Oakland, California, in this November 28, 2008 file photo. California regulators on Wednesday gave final approval to the nation's first mandatory energy curbs on television sets, a growing but often-overlooked power drain that accounts for 10 percent of home electric bills in the state.
  12. The sign at a Wal-Mart store is pictured in Alexandria, Virginia November 12, 2009. Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a higher-than-expected profit, but forecast earnings during the key holiday quarter that could miss Wall Street estimates as its customers face rising unemployment.
  13. Shoppers look through holiday gift wrapping paper at a Wal-Mart store in Alexandria, Virginia November 12, 2009. Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a higher-than-expected profit, but forecast earnings during the key holiday quarter that could miss Wall Street estimates as its customers face rising unemployment.
  14. A shopper looks through clothing at a Wal-Mart store in Alexandria, Virginia November 12, 2009. Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a higher-than-expected profit, but forecast earnings during the key holiday quarter that could miss Wall Street estimates as its customers face rising unemployment.
  15. Shopping carts sit outside a Wal-Mart store in Alexandria, Virginia November 12, 2009. Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a higher-than-expected profit, but forecast earnings during the key holiday quarter that could miss Wall Street estimates as its customers face rising unemployment.
  16. Shoppers look at Christmas plants at a Wal-Mart store in Alexandria, Virginia November 12, 2009. Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a higher-than-expected profit, but forecast earnings during the key holiday quarter that could miss Wall Street estimates as its customers face rising unemployment.

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