Dollar stores gaining ground in a down economy on clarkhoward.com

Need to boost your spending power? The dollar stores are providing more Americans with a hand-up during a down economy.

Dollar General's sales are up almost 10% since last quarter and they're opening 450 new stores, according to The New York Times. Dollar Tree is opening 235 new stores this year. Meanwhile, Family Dollar's sales are up 6.5% year over year.

Even within the world of the dollar stores, there are some important distinctions to note.

Both Dollar General and Family Dollar price a majority of their items at $1, but also offer some merchandise at higher price points. Dollar Tree and the 99-Cent Only chain are both true dollar stores where everything is $1, no exceptions.

Recently at a Durham, N.C. appearance, someone asked Clark if he thinks people will go back to shopping like they once did when the recession ends.

The consumer champ doesn't think so. He believes that we've moved beyond the "shop 'til you drop" mentality and really turned a corner in the financial life of our nation.

What others are saying

Dollar Stores, Love Them
I have always shopped at these type of stores. Yes, sometimes things are a little more than they are at say, Wal Mart but I HATE Wal Mart and do not shop there. So a few extra pennies will be fine for me to spend. If you use coupons and the right stratagey you can buy most items at the grocery store for less them you can anywhere. I routinely get free tp, deodorant and groceries without alot of work. It saves me money and that is the most important thing to me.
By Ronda @ 06/07/09 06:08:15 PMreport abuse
Dollar Stores
You do need to be cautious however. There are many $.79 cent items that are $1.00 in these stores!
By TWB @ 06/05/09 05:44:10 AMreport abuse
We've change before too...
Clark, you rave about how short sited people are....gas prices, hybrid hype, etc etc etc....do you not remember your history? Things slump, we cut back, things get good, we go crazy....cyclic throughout american History. Hypocrite.
By ThatGuy @ 06/04/09 09:58:13 AMreport abuse
Dollar shopping
Wall-mart is not asleep at the wheel! They have a dollar section with shelves of dollar merchandise.
Some items at the dollar stores are priced higher than discount stores so they have to be watched.
Thanks Clark for your research.
Today I was out shopping mostly for the monthly food shop for two of us and I was depresed that everything is costing more. I would think in this economy things would be more competative. I spent $222 including a tank of gas and some RX. WOW.
By Jay @ 06/03/09 06:45:10 PMreport abuse
financial lifestyle change?
the only reason the financially challenged change their way is when they are forced to. since the atm machine is gone from the front door of their home, zero down car loans are harder to come by and credit card companies are reigning in credit availability they have no choice but to cut back. If and when that changes, these people will go back to their wild west spending lifestyle.
wake up clark!
By brian @ 06/03/09 05:14:36 PMreport abuse
Dollar Tree
Guess that isn't true anymore about dollar Tree. I heard the cashier tell someone that candy bars are now .59. I thought, wait a minute, what happened to everything being $1 or 2 for $1.00?
By Pat @ 06/03/09 03:49:37 PMreport abuse

Dollar Stores, Love Them

I have always shopped at these type of stores. Yes, sometimes things are a little more than they are at say, Wal Mart but I HATE Wal Mart and do not shop there. So a few extra pennies will be fine for me to spend. If you use coupons and the right stratagey you can buy most items at the grocery store for less them you can anywhere. I routinely get free tp, deodorant and groceries without alot of work. It saves me money and that is the most important thing to me.

By Ronda @ 06/07/09 06:08:15 PMreport abuse

Dollar Stores

You do need to be cautious however. There are many $.79 cent items that are $1.00 in these stores!

By TWB @ 06/05/09 05:44:10 AMreport abuse

We've change before too...

Clark, you rave about how short sited people are....gas prices, hybrid hype, etc etc etc....do you not remember your history? Things slump, we cut back, things get good, we go crazy....cyclic throughout american History. Hypocrite.

By ThatGuy @ 06/04/09 09:58:13 AMreport abuse

Dollar shopping

Wall-mart is not asleep at the wheel! They have a dollar section with shelves of dollar merchandise.
Some items at the dollar stores are priced higher than discount stores so they have to be watched.
Thanks Clark for your research.
Today I was out shopping mostly for the monthly food shop for two of us and I was depresed that everything is costing more. I would think in this economy things would be more competative. I spent $222 including a tank of gas and some RX. WOW.

By Jay @ 06/03/09 06:45:10 PMreport abuse

financial lifestyle change?

the only reason the financially challenged change their way is when they are forced to. since the atm machine is gone from the front door of their home, zero down car loans are harder to come by and credit card companies are reigning in credit availability they have no choice but to cut back. If and when that changes, these people will go back to their wild west spending lifestyle.
wake up clark!

By brian @ 06/03/09 05:14:36 PMreport abuse

Dollar Tree

Guess that isn't true anymore about dollar Tree. I heard the cashier tell someone that candy bars are now .59. I thought, wait a minute, what happened to everything being $1 or 2 for $1.00?

By Pat @ 06/03/09 03:49:37 PMreport abuse

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Jun 03, 2009 -- Dollar stores gaining ground in a down economy

What others are saying