Shopping during December at a number of Greeneville stores was better than expected, managers have reported during interviews this week.

At the Belk store in the Greeneville Commons, Greg Smith, the manager, said, "We have had a very good December," with the store staying "just as busy as we were last year," despite the national recession and Greene County's high unemployment rate (13.8 percent in November).

He said shoppers seemed to be more focused this year on practical winter clothes. For example, Smith said, "We are completely out of scarves and gloves."

At the local Kmart, Rick Jones, the manager, also noted that customers "were shopping wisely," looking for good value.

He added that sales of the store's "higher-end electronics were a little sluggish, but added that "apparel sales were high."

At Walmart, manager Buddy Kolb said Monday, "So far we are tracking above our plan" for the month.

"Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and the Saturday before Christmas (Dec. 19) were both big days."

Kolb said, thankfully, Greeneville's Walmart was "impacted less" by bad weather and power outages than were some other Walmart stores in Northeast Tennessee.

At the JC Penney store, a supervisor said of its sales in December, "We've had a pretty decent month," although customers have clearly been cost-conscious and the store experienced a decline in jewelery sales during the month.

At Big Lots, Kelly Hilton, an associate manager, said her impression was that December sales were "a little bit better" than last year's, with customers mainly buying "the necessary things, like clothes."

At Bob's Factory Outlet, which has two Greeneville stores, assistant manager Dana Rolin said that this month "customers were still coming in for Christmas decorations, but I would say they were conservative" in their purchases, buying items "they actually needed."

At Hibbett Sporting Goods, Tracy Keyes, the manager, said December sales "were up this year" compared with a year ago. She said an important factor was the store's addition of North Face jackets.

At Ross Furniture & Bedding, Kathy Ross, a co-owner, said, "Our December actually has been better than it was last year. We're thankful."

She said that furniture purchases generally have been made by couples who have come to the store together.

Ross said her impression has been that the couple often have been planning to buy a piece of furniture for some time, but have waited until just before Christmas to give themselves such gifts.

At Roberts Furniture Appliance Accents store, Shandi Wittenburg, a salesperson, said December business "was actually up from last year."

She said there has been much interest in Lane Gallery furniture that the store now features.

Wittenburg said she noticed that, reflecting concerns about the recession, customers seemed to be taking care to "make responsible purchases."

The local Staples said it had no manager available to comment.

Lowe's Home Improvement Center referred questions about its December sales to a corporate office in North Carolina, which said it is the company's policy not to discuss monthly sales.