American Eagle Outfitters

With economic turmoil once again erupting in Europe, debt headaches in the U.S. and consumer confidence falling a worse-than-expected amount on Tuesday, a recent wave of bleak economic news has some fearful of a weakening recovery.The worrisome reports come on top of much colder-than-usual temperatures in the Northeast and severe snow storms in the Midwest that have been blamed for slow retail sales over the last few months, triggering a recent wave of lowered full-year outlooks."The weather hasn't been doing retailers any favors," said Jessica Bornn, senior merchants and luxury specialist for Merchant Forecast. "When coupled with increased payroll taxes, it's a perfect storm."While sunnier days may be ahead for some industries as the temperature improves, fueling sales of anything from flip flops to grills and pool supplies, there are concerns that underlying economic fundamentals indicate a much bleaker spending environment that could persist for years."I think the weather is a mask,...

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