Apple Stores open at least a year saw customer traffic fall off 1.8 percent in the December quarter and sales drop 17.4 percent, according to Charlie Wolf, a hardware analyst with Needham.
Mr. Wolf said that visitors to Apple Stores during the holidays "were not in a spending mood."
This has to be a concern to Apple, which a Barron's article points out, sells computers and other gadgetry that tends to be more expensive than competitive products on the market.
A falloff by Apple has to be a concern to mall owners and managers since the chain has consistently attracted consumers and registered sales that Mr. Wolf said were "undoubtedly the highest among retail chains in the country."
According to Mr. Wolf, the typical 6,000 square-foot Apple outlet averages sales of approximately $4,700 per square foot.
Discussion Questions: Is there cause for concern for Apple Store operations? Where do you see opportunities for Apple to benefit during the economic downturn?