Consumer research specialist Britt Beemer is predicting a bleak Christmas, with overall retail sales down almost 3% over last year.

The CEO of America's Research Group (ARG), known for his Christian retail channel studies, said that consumers are under so much financial pressure this year "that even children will feel the pinch."

His Christmas-season research found more than half of shoppers saying they would be spending less this year, with families also buying for fewer people. In addition, he warned that "shopping won't be so much fun this year," with double the number of shoppers saying they will leave stores that are short-handed or have long lines.

Meanwhile ARG's latest survey of key retail sectors found Christian retail's market share rising slightly. According to the group's September figures, 6% of the population visited a Christian retail store, up from 5.3% in July, but down from the 7.3% of September 2008 and the 12.3% of September 2007.

The ARG September figures also found that Christian bookstore per-capita spending was $3.05 compared to $2.83 in July, $4.22 in September 2008 and $6.62 of 12 months earlier.

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