One national retailer group predicts 2019 will be a more robust holiday shopping season.

That makes some Iowa store owners excited with expectations of seeing bigger holiday sales if the predictions hold true.

The National Retail Federation represents retailers like Wal Mart, Macy's and Amazon.com. It says in this week's Wall St. Journal to expect stronger sales this year, hopefully beating last year’s lower-than-expected results.

Around Cedar Rapids, a few big new stores like Fleet Farm join in for their first holiday sales season.

The new Fleet Farm near Edgewood Rd and HWY 100 will officially open its “Toyland” department Saturday October 12 at 6:00 a.m. featuring a KDAT live remote broadcast with Mike Ferris on the air until 8:00 a.m.

Many Eastern Iowa retailers have wasted no time in stocking Christmas merchandise in stores, some right next door to their still-stuffed Halloween aisles.

With stores already ramping up the holiday displays and floor plans, only one burning  question remains: Can the Christmas music on the radio be that far away?

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