keywords: retailers sales shopping usatoday holiday
text: Stores reconsider sales strategies after sluggish weekend (USATODAY.com) USATODAY.com - In spite of a burst of Friday spending, the holiday shopping season got off to a sluggish start, forcing retailers to reassess their strategies for luring buyers. Slow sales reported by three retail sales trackers on Tuesday were blamed on higher fuel costs and an overall lack of confidence in the economy.