"The chief merchant will report to me," he said.

The nation's merchants reported sales for the month of September yesterday, and they were mostly dismal.

For months leading into the holiday season, merchants reported that consumer spending was gradually slowing.

It was the second straight month in which merchants reported increases of more than 5 percent.

Nevertheless, some merchants reported increases in sales between 15% and 100%.

It was the second consecutive month, and the third time this year, in which the nation's merchants reported increases of more than 5 percent.

The merchant in Osaka had not yet reported full success, but apparently he was reaching his goal.

Many merchants report that stores in urban areas, usually all but deserted this time of year, have been crowded.

Today, most neckwear merchants report that men make up 30 percent of their customers and in some stores almost half.

The nation's merchants also reported that sales in August rose only 3 percent, below analysts' expectations.