The whole Wal-mart formula is come in below market prices, rub out the local competition and then price back up to just under the local market level in some products while over the level in others, all the while gouging the employees and customers of the stores Wal-mart put out of business. They hire illegals, discriminate against women and use questionable business practices in their quest to lower the bottomline.

Wal-mart has gotten greedy and they have significantly raised their prices to finance their continued global expansion. Naturally, sales are down.

I'm not weeping for Wal-mart. As an indicator of the economy it just doesn't fly. The oil companies have been so greedy the past year that they tapped into consumers' Wal-mart money. It's another no-brainer.