I guess I don't understand the negative tone of this article.
Deep in the story, it says, "The UBS-International Council of Shopping Centers tally of 43 retailers posted a 3.5 percent gain in same-store sales in November." How does that translate to "an uneasy start" that the reporter states in the lead paragraph? This article easily could have been written from a positive viewpoint by stating at the outset that same-store sales grew at 3.5 per cent. Media just can't change their gloomy outlook regardless of facts.