Stores open early day after Christmas

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich .(WOOD) - Stores across West Michigan will open early Wednesday, the day after Christmas, for shoppers to use their gift cards, make returns and pick up some deeply discounted merchandise.

According to a report out Tuesday by MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, holiday sales in the two months before Christmas rose by 0.7% the smallest increase since 2008.

Many analysts had expected holiday sales to grow between 3% and 4%.

Experts say the small growth in sales can be attributed to bad weather disrupting the shopping season and consumers' concerns about the fiscal cliff.

The day after Christmas is typically a busy day for stores as shoppers head out to redeem gift cards, return gifts and pick up items that have been deeply discounted.

Stores across West Michigan are opening their doors early to help accommodate the extra foot traffic.

When stores open:

• Kohls 5 a.m.
• Meijer 6 a.m.
• Macy's, JC Pennys, Sears and Target 7 a.m.
• Best Buy, Toys R Us and The Lakes Mall 8 a.m.
• Woodland Mall, Rivertown Mall and The Crossroads Mall 9 a.m.