The retailer is initiating a seven-week program that is expected to generate more than $200 million in savings.

Patricia Huddleston, MSU retailing professor, said with the poor economy, several stores have followed Wal-Mart’s lead in implementing bigger sales.

“Retailers are expecting a 2.5 percent increase in sales from the previous year, which is one of the lowest in a while,” Huddleston said.

“A lot of it has to do with the tough economy.”

In East Lansing, business owners said they’re having their normal sales but aren’t planning to shave prices due to the economy.

“The economy is worrying to any small business, but our prices are what keeps the lights on every day,” said Andrew Morrow, owner of 21st Century Comics & Games, 515 E. Grand River Ave. “We’re still planning to do our holiday sales, including one on Black Friday.”

At Student Book Store, 421 E. Grand River Ave., nearly the entire selection aside from books and electronics will be marked down by 20 percent for a holiday sale during exam week, as has been the case in years past, manager Brad Ballein said.

“Customers usually come in and get a good portion of their holiday shopping done,” Ballein said.

“The big things are clothing and gifts.”

History junior Amanda Murray said she’s planning to only spend money on her close family and friends this Christmas to keep costs down.

“I’ll probably spend less this Christmas with the price of tuition and the economy,” Murray said.

With the holiday season also comes the threat of more burglaries.

Theresa Tyler, manager at Eyes-4U Vision Studio, 205 M.A.C. Ave., said she’s heard about more thefts and has caught more people scouting out the optometrist’s studio this year than in years past.

“Usually it’s a group of three people — one will keep me busy, one will stand by the door, and one will lift things,” Tyler said. “When I see this, I don’t stand behind the counter and if they ask me to look up things, I kindly tell them I don’t have the information.”