Yahoo! News :: Business

Stores expected to report dismal September sales (AP)

<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081006/ap_on_bi_ge/retail_sales_preview"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20081006/capt.04f8e563a5324764bc841adc9767b844.retail_sales_september_carf201.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=FX8xYxPoFps59W9vMyOTnA--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="Lorraine Sanchez, right, and Van Ma, second from right, shop at a Wal-Mart Supercenter Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, in Rosemead, Calif. Retailers' monthly sales reports for September, set to be released Wednesday, are expected to show how the financial meltdown has taken a toll on already fragile consumers. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)" border="0" /></a>AP - The weak retail sales merchants had been expected to post for September will likely prove to have been a disaster as the financial meltdown that began halfway through the month sent shoppers into hiding.</p><br clear="all"/>