INTERESTING PATTERN

Wal-Mart sees a change in consumer behavior because of the economic slowdown.

Rebates Won't Spark U.S. Economy as Prices Soar, Survey Shows
By Shobhana Chandra and Alex Tanzi
May 9 (Bloomberg)


``The economy continues to get tougher and the paycheck cycle is more pronounced for customers than in past months,'' Eduardo Castro-Wright, chief executive officer of Wal-Mart's U.S. stores, said yesterday in a statement. ``As money gets tighter for them toward the end of the month, sales drop more than we have seen in the past.''