CBNNews.com - The 2008 Christmas shopping season has been a dismal one for most retailers, with one exception.

While sales are down in almost every category, Wal-Mart is still going strong.

More than 135 million Americans shop there each week. The retail giant's sales were up three percent last month.

But even there, signs of consumer stress are showing. Eighty percent of Wal-Mart shoppers say personal financial security is their number one concern. Fewer Wal-Mart shoppers are using credit cards.

"Credit is being used a lot less. But we're seeing a lot more shopping with cash," said Stephen Quinn, Chief Marketing Officer, Wal-Mart

Another change in shopping habits: sales of generics are growing at two and a half times the rate of the more expensive name brands.