According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, March total retail sales--which also exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants--decreased 1.1% seasonally adjusted over February and decreased 10.6% unadjusted over last year.

"A chilly start to spring and a late Easter combined for dreary March sales," said Rosalind Wells, NRF chief economist."To compensate for the Easter shift, retailers typically look at March and April together to get a better look at how their stores performed. Easter should give a much-needed boost to April sales."

Sales at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores also decreased 0.9% seasonally over February and decreased 3% unadjusted over last year.

Meanwhile, leading consumer researcher Britt Beemer--who has run America's Research Group for the last 30 years--told USA Today that about 25% to 30% of retailer chains are likely to be forced into bankruptcy re-organization and have to "shed 30 to 40% of their stores" by year's end. Beemer is the author of two major Christian retail studies commissioned by CBA.