The decline was caused by a big drop in car sales, but sales also plunged at clothing stores, appliance outlets and furniture shops.
My mother ran a clothing store in a small town and girls would steal from us all the time.
My college friends introduced me to trendy thrift and consignment clothing stores.
Buying my clothes at a thrift store yields items that are not-so-watered-down versions of what I would get at my other favorite clothing store, and that are a fraction of the price.
