Thursday, November 20, 2008
By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The economy is down and bus routes have been reduced, but officials at Century III Mall are keeping their fingers crossed for a healthy holiday shopping season.

Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department announced that retail sales dropped by 2.8 percent in October, the largest amount on record, with sales of everything from autos to furniture to clothing taking a hit.

One week earlier, the Port Authority announced that it was cutting bus service to Century III Mall, starting Sunday, potentially keeping shoppers away from the West Mifflin complex, which already is dealing with some 30 empty storefronts.

[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08325/929199-55.stm ]