BIG BUCKS: Holiday shoppers spent more in...

BIG BUCKS: Holiday shoppers spent more in Orange County stores last year than the gross national products of 67 nations, including Liberia and Nicaragua. . . . From October, when merchants begin their holiday hiring, through Christmas, shoppers spent an estimated $2.19 billion to $2.73 billion on apparel, jewelry, appliances and the like. . . . The county’s 79 general-merchandise stores took in $307.7 million in December alone.