Retail experts are predicting it might not be that happy of a holiday season given the fickle status of the economy.

The experts say this Christmas season could be the weakest one in nearly two decades.

?I see this as a very difficult year,? professor Jack Mandel, of Nassau Community College, says. ?People are going to be very savvy. They are going to want to cut the best deal.?

Perhaps that?s why big stores like Wal-Mart have already started cutting prices on holiday items.

?According to surveys that we have done, we know for a fact that people are going to spend differently,? Wal-Mart manager Greg Tucker says. ?As far as how much they are going to spend, we'll find that out when the time comes.?

Small businesses might not fare as well, but owners say they?re holding out hope.

Retail experts say sales of big-ticket items like cars and large appliances will probably be affected most this holiday season.