Economy on Shopping Season

What is the economy going to do on the shopping season?

Being that I have worked in retail and currently work security at Short Pump Town Center I have some really good stories of people shopping on black friday and the whole Christmas shopping season for that matter. But, as I worked this past friday for 12 hours I got to thinking about the state of the economy in the world today and how that will effect shopping over the holidays. I had not heard it yet, but sitting beside my grandmother at thanksgiving dinner, and she is telling everyone that a neighbor had told her not to buy gift cards for people because you can never tell which companies will exist after Christmas. I can tell you from experience, no one was scared to go shopping this friday. If it wasn't more busy than last year, it had to be just as. Which was good to see. With the stock market up and down it will interesting to see what kind of shopping season America has. So I want to know; What are you doing this christmas shopping wise? Are you spending the same, or cutting down buying gifts?