Baltimore retailers say holiday sales ho hum

Retail sales ticked up only slightly across the U.S. this holiday season as shoppers fretted about bad weather and the prospect of higher taxes come Jan. 1.

Consumers are bracing for higher taxes set to occur in 2013 if President Barack Obama and Congress cannot reach agreement on how to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff”. Some $600 billion in tax increases and spending cuts will go into effect if a spending deal is not reached by Jan. 1. That had many consumers holding onto their wallets this…