The Detroit News focused on Michigan retailers in this Christmas shopping forecast story: Retailers face chilly holiday season.

A snippet:

Gift cards, free shipping deals on the Web and no-frills presents such as books and music are expected to see an upswing this holiday season.

But the steep markdowns on electronics, clothing, sporting goods and furnishings that shoppers enjoyed last year aren’t likely to be found. Saddled with extra merchandise after last year’s banking collapse, retailers have scaled back inventory dramatically.

The shift in merchandise specials toward lower-priced items is not entirely a bad thing.

For years, shoppers would be buzzing about expensive gifts that weren’t in my budget even with a Black Friday deal. But this year, I’ve noticed good prices and promotions for items that are usually on my Christmas shopping list or worth considering: Christmas cards, boxed chocolates, movies, books, Christmas tree ornaments and iTunes cards.

So if you are the frugal sort to begin with, it looks like the 2009 deals are made for you.

You’ll find the promotions I’ve found so far for stores in the Monroe, Mich., area under sales and deals and Black Friday 2009.