6_MC Reasons_NN2 Why_RRQ the_AT Dismal_JJ Retail_JJ Season_NNT1 Was_VBDZ Good_JJ for_IF Us_PPIO2 You_PPY 've_VH0 probably_RR heard_VVN the_AT bad_JJ news_NN1 :_: Early_JJ numbers_NN2 show_VV0 that_CST December_NPM1 same-store_JJ sales_NN fell_VVD about_II 1_MC1 percent_NNU from_II last_MD year_NNT1 ,_, despite_II steep_JJ discounts_NN2 and_CC bargain-hunting_JJ shoppers_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB what_DDQ you_PPY may_VM have_VHI missed_VVN is_VBZ the_AT good_JJ news_NN1 ._. 
Really_RR ._. 
Consumers_NN2 got_VVD deals_NN2 and_CC finally_RR learned_VVN to_TO save_VVI ._. 
Retailers_NN2 were_VBDR forced_VVN to_TO learn_VVI what_DDQ it_PPH1 will_VM take_VVI to_TO survive_VVI a_AT1 recession_NN1 ._. 
And_CC some_DD even_RR emerged_VVD as_RG shining_JJ stars_NN2 ._. 
Here_RL are_VBR six_MC reasons_NN2 why_RRQ the_AT so-called_JJ dismal_JJ holiday_NN1 season_NNT1 actually_RR is_VBZ cause_NN1 for_IF cheer_NN1 :_: Shoppers_NN2 got_VVD great_JJ deals_NN2 ._. 
Low_JJ prices_NN2 ,_, especially_RR on_II consumer_NN1 electronics_NN1 ,_, made_VVD Blu-ray_JJ DVD_NP1 players_NN2 and_CC LCD_NN1 televisions_NN2 two_MC of_IO the_AT most_RGT popular_JJ gifts_NN2 this_DD1 season_NNT1 ._. 
Dan_NP1 de_NP1 Grandpre_NP1 ,_, chief_JJ executive_NN1 of_IO Dealnews.com_NP1 ,_, says_VVZ that_CST at_II one_MC1 point_NN1 he_PPHS1 saw_VVD a_AT1 42-inch_NNU1 LCD_NN1 television_NN1 going_VVG for_IF $500_NNU ._. 
Even_RR luxury_JJ retailers_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 Saks_NP2 Fifth_NP1 Avenue_NNL1 and_CC Nordstrom_NP1 were_VBDR taking_VVG up_RG21 to_RG22 40_MC percent_NNU off_RP and_CC offering_VVG free_JJ shipping_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 meant_VVD those_DD2 looking_VVG to_TO upgrade_VVI their_APPGE home_NN1 entertainment_NN1 center_NN1 or_CC redo_NN1 their_APPGE wardrobe_NN1 were_VBDR able_JK to_TO do_VDI so_RR without_IW breaking_VVG the_AT bank_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 set_VVD us_PPIO2 up_RP for_IF a_AT1 stellar_JJ '09_MC season_NNT1 ._. 
Retail_JJ success_NN1 is_VBZ all_DB relative_JJ ._. 
Each_DD1 month_NNT1 or_CC quarter_NN1 ,_, companies_NN2 report_VV0 how_RGQ much_RR they_PPHS2 sold_VVD relative_II21 to_II22 the_AT same_DA period_NN1 from_II the_AT previous_JJ year_NNT1 ._. 
This_DD1 year_NNT1 's_GE low_JJ numbers_NN2 mean_VV0 next_MD year_NNT1 --_NN1 the_AT 2009_MC holiday_NN1 season_NNT1 --_NN1 will_VM have_VHI an_AT1 easy_JJ time_NNT1 impressing_VVG analysts_NN2 ._. 
Sure_RR ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ sort_RR21 of_RR22 like_II gaining_VVG weight_NN1 just_RR so_CS you_PPY can_VM say_VVI you_PPY lost_VVD it_PPH1 ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 still_RR means_VVZ we_PPIS2 've_VH0 got_VVN some_DD good_JJ news_NN1 coming_VVG our_APPGE way_NN1 ._. 
The_AT slow_JJ season_NNT1 led_VVN to_II some_DD incredible_JJ travel_NN1 deals_NN2 ._. 
Chris_NP1 McGinnis_NP1 ,_, editor_NN1 of_IO the_AT Best_JJT Western_JJ blog_NN1 You_PPY Must_VM Be_VBI Trippin'_VVG ,_, says_VVZ two_MC areas_NN2 are_VBR particularly_RR ripe_JJ for_IF steals_NN2 :_: Hawaii_NP1 and_CC cruises_NN2 ._. 
"_" Hawaii_NP1 has_VHZ not_XX been_VBN this_DD1 cheap_JJ in_II a_AT1 long_JJ time_NNT1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 says_VVZ ._. 
Round-trip_JJ tickets_NN2 are_VBR as_RG low_JJ as_CSA $300_NNU from_II the_AT West_ND1 Coast_NN1 and_CC $500_NNU from_II the_AT Midwest_NP1 ._. 
McGinnis_NP1 will_VM head_VVI out_RP to_II Hawaii_NP1 later_RRR this_DD1 month_NNT1 ,_, and_CC he_PPHS1 says_VVZ he_PPHS1 will_VM get_VVI a_AT1 car_NN1 for_IF just_RR $33_NNU a_AT1 day_NNT1 and_CC a_AT1 hip_NN1 hotel_NN1 for_IF just_RR $112_NNU a_AT1 night_NNT1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 estimates_VVZ that_CST he_PPHS1 'll_VM spend_VVI just_RR $600_NNU to_II $700_NNU for_IF a_AT1 four-day_JJ getaway_NN1 --_NN1 about_RG a_AT1 quarter_NN1 of_IO what_DDQ it_PPH1 would_VM have_VHI cost_VVN last_MD winter_NNT1 ._. 
(_( He_PPHS1 'll_VM be_VBI using_VVG frequent-flier_JJ miles_NNU2 for_CS the_AT airfare_NN1 ._. )_) 
