issues for a slump in holiday shopping. sales fell more than 4% during the second week of december. but overall sales should be up 2.5%. that s less than earlier predictions. retailers expect $258 billion in sales by christmas day. online sales, meanwhile, are up more than 8% on saturday to an estimated 48 billion. you done with your shopping? or are you so slow like me? i am done. i got most of it done. my husband is going to have to finish it off for the rest of the family because i don t have anymore time. you re working overnight. perfect excuse. and he s happy to do it. while you re out and about with the family, mother nature is getting into the holiday spirit with christmas lights of her own listen to this, jupiter and the moon will be in conjunction tomorrow evening, but they re already close together in the sky. and bright enough to be visible around the world, even in big cities. and with a home telescope you ll be able to see the storms