Today I am in a haven safe from shopping: my office. But for those brave or foolhardy enough to venture forth, many eyes will be watching, from a distance.

Retail sales are one measure of an economy's health, and for the last two holiday seasons they have been soft. So far in 2010 things have been looking up for retailers. The National Retail Federation has forecast a 2.5% increase for the year - a solid number, especially with an inflation rate of nearly zero.

This year has been and will continue to be a recovery year for our economy - and the recovery will likely continue to extend to US financial markets.

GTC

(This article contains the current opinions of the author but not necessarily those of Brighton Securities Corp. The author's opinions are subject to change without notice. This blog post is for informational purposes only. Forecasts, estimates, and certain information contained herein should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. References to specific securities and their issuers are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended and should not be interpreted as recommendations to purchase or sell such securities).