Question: Which Retailers have been Hardest Hit by the Downturn in the U.S. Economy?

Well one way to measure this is to look at the store closings announced for U.S. retailers. Here's a list compiled from the Internet:

• Ann Taylor closing 117 stores.
• Bombay Company closing all 384 U.S.-based Bombay Company stores.
• Cache closing 23 stores this year.
• Circuit City closing 150 out of 1484 stores in the US and Canada.
• Dillard closing more stores.
• Disney Store closing up to 98 stores.
• Eddie Bauer closing more stores.
• Ethan Allen Interiors closing 12 out of 300+ stores.
• Foot Locker closing 140 stores.
• Gap Inc. closing 85 stores.
• Home Depot store closing 15 stores.
• KB Toys closing 356 stores.
• Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines closing 150 stores.
• Linens ‘n’ Things closing 371 stores.
• Macy's closing 9 stores.
• Mervyns closing 149 stores.
• Movie Gallery closing 160 stores.
• Pacific Sunwear closing 154 stores.
• Pep Boys closing 33 stores.
• Sharper Image closing between 90 and184 stores.
• Sprint Nextel closing 125 retail locations.
• Steve & Barry's closing 276 stores.
• Talbot's, J. Jill closing up to 100 stores.
• Wilsons the Leather Experts closing 158 stores.
• Zales, Piercing Pagoda closing 105 stores.