Retail store closings are mounting. I will try to keep this updated.I will first list the current retail store closing list for 2009. Bear in mind that this list has contributed to massive unemployment, although the loss of manufacturing jobs has also contributed.

My issue with government statistics is that, for example, third quarter GDP is about to be revised down from 3.5 percent to 2.8 percent and now down to 2.2 percent. That is huge. We also know that tax receipts are way down for the states, declining 9.2 and then 8.5 percent in the most recent data. These two facts, coupled with the store closings, make the government's stats regarding flat or slightly increasing sales suspect to me and even a boldfaced lie.

From the site above:

"But a closed store is ignored in the month it fails, and the traffic that shifts FROM it to other stores pumps their comps .vs. the previous month. Therefore, as stores close it looks like retail activity actually increased when in fact at best it was flat...

...If you were wondering how we can possibly have "improving" retail sales data when sales tax information from the states refuses to reflect this alleged "improvement" in retail sales, along with how states can post double-digit sales tax declines while "retail sales" are down by a much smaller percentage, you now understand. The Census Bureau intentionally lies by omitting the "zero" for a store in the month it closes - that loss of sales is never reported - not even retrospectively in a revision the next month."

Since we have massive store closings, this number for the retail sales survey is incorrect. This is just one more manipulation of data to help the stock market for benefit of the investor class by the government.

Data in Millions
Year …… Sep …… Oct …… Nov …… Dec
2005 …… 309,123 …… 310,618 …… 313,556 …… 313,517
2006 …… 321,865 …… 322,662 …… 324,328 …… 328,449
2007 …… 335,174 …… 336,814 …… 342,772 …… 339,115
2008 …… 327,651 …… 316,793 …… 307,463 …… 298,949
2009 …… 305,865 …… 309,791 …… 314,086 ……
Month on Month Growth
2005 …… ----------- …… 0.48% …… 0.95% …… -0.01%
2006 …… ----------- …… 0.25% …… 0.52% …… 1.27%
2007 …… ----------- …… 0.49% …… 1.77% …… -1.07%
2008 …… ----------- …… -3.31% …… -2.95% …… -2.77%
2009 …… ----------- …… 1.28% …… 1.39% …… -----------
Year On Year Growth
2006 …… 4.12% …… 3.88% …… 3.44% …… 4.76%
2007 …… 4.13% …… 4.39% …… 5.69% …… 3.25%
2008 …… -2.24% …… -5.94% …… -10.30% …… -11.84%
2009 …… -6.65% …… -2.21% …… 2.15% ……
This Year On Peak Year (2007)
2009 …… -8.74% …… -8.02% …… -8.37% ……

Courtesy: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/holiday-miracle-on-main-street-2009-12-11#comment3288585

Here is the alphabetized link from About.com:

Here is the list with most stores to least with the link for all the stores at the bottom of the list:

960 Blockbuster

789 Chrysler

567 Circuit City

461 KB Toys

450 Movie Gallery (Game Crazy, Hollywood Video)

365 Ritz Camera

273 Starbucks

287 Goody's

265 Jones Apparel Group (2009 & 2010)

240 Waldenbooks

191 Zale Corporation

175 Van Heusen

163 Ann Taylor (by 2010)

161 InkStop

160 Family Dollar

150 Popeye's (AFC Enterprises)

135 S&K Famous Brands Inc.

130 Advance America

129 Boater's World

125 F.Y.E. (Trans World Entertainment)

121 Eddie Bauer

118 Office Depot

117 Rite Aid

104 Finlay Enterprises

102 Payless Shoes

100 Albertsons

100 Charming Shoppes

100 Gap, Inc.

98        Club Libby Lu (Saks)

85       NextCen Brands (Great American Cookies, MagieMoo's, Marble Slab Creamery, Pretzelmaker)

84     Samsonite

81     Saab Dealerships

77       Game Stop

75       J. Jill

75       Signet Jewelers

70      Famous Footwear (Brown Shoe Co.)

60        Arby's

60       Collective Brands

60        Dominos

59       Advance Auto Parts

The rest of the list and other store closing information can be found here.