CINCINNATI (AP) — Retail researchers expect sales to beup this holiday shopping season for Ohio
businesses, according to anannual forecast released Monday.However, the forecast by theUniversity of
Cincinnati Economics Center indicates uneven sales growtharound the state, with more than half of the retail
spending expected tocome in the Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati areas.Sales are projected to be up only
slightly in the Youngstown region, and roughly flat in the Akron and Dayton areas.Overall,the forecast
projects $14.9 billion in retail sales for November toDecember, up 3.5 percent from the same period last
year. The forecast,done in conjunction with the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, usessales tax data and
other factors in its forecasting model.Animproved housing market in Ohio, lower gas prices, and recent
stockmarket gains help brighten the outlook for retail spending, said UCresearcher Jeff Rexhausen. There has
also been steady monthly growth inthis year’s retail spending over last year’s."Momentum was a big
factor in driving our forecast," Rexhausen said.Inpercentage growth expected, Columbus led at 4.4
percent, followed byCleveland and Toledo with 3.8, and the Ohio portion of the Cincinnatiregion at 3.4.
Expected to lag behind are Youngstown at 1.4, Akron at0.4 and Dayton at 0.1.The forecast says that
increasing use of Internet sites for holiday shopping will continue to bite into retailers’ sales.Anearlier
Deloitte LLP survey of Ohio shoppers found many consumers werefeeling optimistic about the economy heading
into the holiday shoppingseason and expected to spend more this year.Jim Ellerhorst, aCincinnati-based
partner in Deloitte’s retail practice, said itsresearch has found plans for increasing use of smartphones in
shopping.___Online:Ohio Council of Retail Merchants’ public research arm: http://focusonohiosfuture.com___Follow Dan
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