the publisher s sale of this reprint does not constitute or imply any endorsement sponsorship product service company organization custom reprints 609 520 4331 po box300 princeton nj 08543 0300 do edit alter reproductions permitted forecasters see holiday gains measly and big by vanessa o connell h ho hum are more divided than usual over what kind holi day shopping season retailers will year with predicted for overall sales ranging from a 2 5 hiccup to gangbusters 7 advance consumers spending is an im portant indicator strength 12 trillion us economy count on as much 40 their annual half profits each percentage point represents bil lions dollars in depending who counting how they tallying shoppers expected spend anywhere about 250 lion 786 6 billion amounting equivalent some 13 4 tmx elmos if mattel inc were actually making that many months be fore forecast ers