Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported that its same-store sells, a key measure in the retail sector, missed its January targets and reported that sells increased by 0.4% well below analysts' forecasts of an increase of 1%. This slow growth in same-store sells is the lowest for Wal-Mart since March 2003, and it bolds bad for the economy as consumer spending currently accounts for nearly two-thirds of economic growth. Perkins stated that the retail sector should face turbulence in the coming months.