CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Some encouraging news on the economic front: Retail numbers may be down, but shoppers are still spending money. Just in different places.

Business at Charlotte consignment shops is booming.

It looks like a regular clothing store, but there's one very big difference. Kelly Vaughn has three daughters and brings them to Plato's Closet to shop. "You can find really cute trendy things for half the price of department stores."

It's a consignment shop specializing in teen clothing that the manager says has been doing really well this year, especially this December. Overall for 2008, business is up 20 percent the manager told us.

At south Charlotte's upscale consignment shop, JT Posh, the owner estimates business is up 30 percent in the last three months alone and says the economy is, of course, the reason.

"Business is picking up with the economy, people are very price conscious.  That dollar is going to go a little bit further if you shop here," Catherine Auten told us.

And customers say it's what they need right now, more bang for their bucks.

Vaughn said, "Everything has to be on sale when we buy things."