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The sector has seen a very volatile period on the stock market since the August selloff, and many companies like Macy’s and Dillard’s have seen stock prices fall over 45% from their 2015 highs due to weak earnings and increasingly tough competition from online retailers. Other large traditional retailers, such as Staples, also need to perform well this season to improve their fortunes, as do luxury brands such as Coach.

Beyond the competition from online retailers, many of these companies are faced with shifting consumption patterns in the past year, as consumers have been spending money on cars, home improvements, and electronics. Because of this, many companies need a good holiday season to improve their fortunes, and investor confidence.

Tom: What should shoppers keep in mind during the shopping season?

 Mellody: This time of year brings celebration, shopping, and unfortunately, scams. This is particularly true with the move toward online shopping, tom. Here are a few things that consumers should be cautious of when doing your holiday shopping. First, be careful when you are on your mobile devices, particularly if you are using retail apps. Fake apps have become more and more common and they are very dangerous because they gain access to all of the information on your phone, not just your financial info. So before you download anything, check the reviews and make sure they are legitimate.

Also, take caution as you look for deals on the web. As more and more shoppers move online, retailers are working to interact with you, sponsoring pop-ups touting their deals and promotions. The problem? Scammers are doing the same thing. So, if you want to visit a site, type the address into your browser yourself, do not click on any links. And check the reviews of smaller retail websites, and make sure they have a physical address and phone number listed.

Finally, remember that fraud can be quiet and longer term. While you may catch a fraudulent charge on your card, you also need to keep track of your credit report. Everyone has access to one free credit report per year from each of the big three firms. Definitely check use one of those free reports to check your credit history in late December or early in the new year. That way, you will catch any things that don’t immediately emerge on your radar as you are in shopping mode!

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Money Mondays: The Holiday Shopping Forecast  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com

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