Because of technology, there are less people needed to manufacture and service the durable equipment that we use because this stuff is working better and for a much longer period of time.
While some of the slowdown came primarily from a decline in farm inventories, due to the drought in the mid-west, consumer service spending, exports and durable goods all declined as well.
Do their shoppers come looking for hotter deals on a product, a brand, or most anything else in that store, etc.? Or do they come expecting sustained high quality, good service, products that are durable and reliable, and for which they are willing to pay a bit more.