<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_bi_ge/retail_sales"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080904/capt.a666fa4ccd604024904d72e5006bb9cd.walmart_sale s_caps235.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=b1IYm5Hbf4WGA.ir N4OoZg--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="Wal-Mart customer checks out at Walmart in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008, sales of groceries and back-to-school products helped its August same-store sales rise 3 percent, beating expectations. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)" border="0" /></a>AP - When it came to buying their children new jeans and trendy tops, parents held the line: They focused on basics at discounters and waited for the best deals, resulting in weak August sales at many stores. That's a bad sign for the holiday season as families may be just as cautious with their gift-giving.</p><br clear="all"/>

View the entire article: Slow August sales signal more weakness in retail
(AP)