A new report from the ETSU Bureau of Business and Economic Research shows that Tri-Cities shoppers are hanging onto their money. Dr. Steb Hipple says that sales increased by 2 percent in Bristol while falling one and a half percent in Johnson City. Kingsport retail sales dropped 2.2 percent. Even though sales dropped in the third quarter, employment showed strong growth. Hipple believes that the upcoming fiscal cliff is the driving factor for the slump in sales.