Holiday Shopping in South Florida - Boom or Bust

The holiday shopping season doesn't look bright for retailers in sunny South Florida. In fact, retail sales could be the lowest they've been in almost a decade.

High gasoline prices are taking a big bite out many South Floridian's budgets. The Miami- Fort Lauderdale area has one of the worst mass transit systems in the country, which is why nobody uses it, and most residents commute to work by car instead. With gas prices forecast to hit $3.50 cents a gallon, or higher, during the peak of the shopping season, many local residents may be making far fewer trips to the mall this year.

Shoppers in the Hollywood area and throughout South Florida usually flock to the Sawgrass Mills Outlet to do their holiday shopping at over 400 brand name outlet stores located there. With top designer outlet stores including Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Movado, Coach, Izod, Kenneth Cole, Nautica, Valentino, Anne Klein and Liz Claiborne, the mall has become a magnet that attracts Hollywood residents and tourists, as well as shoppers from throughout the state. Especially popular with holiday shoppers are the Neiman Marcus Last Call and the Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th outlets where prices are up to 75% less than in the two department stores.

The question remains whether or not Hollywood shoppers will spend the extra money on gas to drive to the Sawgrass Mills Mall located in Sunrise , a good 15 miles away. Will the savings they find at Sawgrass offset the gas burned getting to and from the mall and finding a parking space once you get there? As Black Friday approaches, many South Floridians are facing this difficult choice.