Some major department stores have already announced sweeping store closures for 2017, and it appears to be having a devastating effect on smaller mall and shopping center tenants.
Despite increasing consumer confidence, it remains a challenging time for traditional retail.
One retail expert told USA Today that this past holiday shopping season was "fantastic," but some department and clothing stores may disagree. As Clark predicted, the season was "highly promotional," cutting into retailers' profits.
Faced with increased competition from discount and online merchants, like Costco and Amazon, some retailers have decided to reduce their footprint.
These are just a few of the big names that are closing stores this year.
Read the full list at Clark Howard.
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