Minn. retailers bucking national sales trends

St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota retailers may be doing better than the national trend so far this holiday season.

Some surveys show business is down dramatically at many of the nation's largest stores and mall retailers. But in Minnesota many merchants report higher sales.

Minnesota Retailers Association spokesman Buzz Anderson says an informal survey of retailers shows a relatively strong shopping season so far.

"I've heard that traffic has been great and sales have been up and internet sales have also been going through the roof," says Anderson. "There's one other factor too, and this doesn't surprise me. Gift card sales are up - way over last year."

Anderson says early December snow also jump-started snowmobile sales, which he says have been poor over the last few years.