The total revenue at Zale Corp during the otherwise peak holiday season, amounted to $582 million in 2008, falling by 19.5 percent over the same period last year. Its comparable store sales slipped by 19.6 percent in the same period.

The company is reported to face the most difficult holiday season sale following the economic crunch. The company’s inventory levels at December 31 were approximately $115 million less than the same period last year.