Many malls will spend weeks, if not months, to start setting up. Many retailers are just trying to get a head start on the holidays so that when they arrive, they'll have everything decorated and in place.

There's been a lot of speculation as to how consumers will react to higher gas prices, ... I think consumers really took us by surprise.

Microsoft is being quite cautious in trying not to look opportunistic with [year 2000]. They're worried there will be a backlash.

There's no question that gas prices will play a factor, but I don't think that the fallout will be as concerning as many analysts have feared, ... The holidays are something that consumers . . . plan ahead for. They tend not to be swayed by short-term economic circumstances.

I've been trying to figure out what I'm going to do. I may have to miss days. I know that's not good, but I may have to.

The administration is taking a different strategy because it got a lot of flak last year for trying to decimate an existing program that's successful and has a lot of support.