New York ? Shoppers, spooked by stock market plunges, the prospect of war in Iraq and a weak job market, held tight to their pocketbooks in September, leaving stores with dismal sales and indicating a difficult holiday season could be ahead.

As the nation’s retailers reported September sales Thursday, department stores and apparel stores were hit the hardest. Discounters Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp. and Kohl’s Corp. also posted disappointing results.

“Consumers are unwilling to spend, and if they do, they are only buying necessities,” said Walter Loeb, president of retail consulting firm Loeb Associates.

The weak performance led several merchants to reduce their earnings outlook.

“This has made it more certain that the holiday will be lousy,” said Michael P. Niemira, vice president of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd.

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd.’s same-store sales survey of 73 stores was up only 1.6 percent for September, its weakest showing since last September when retail sales, derailed by the terror attacks, rose only 0.9 percent.

Same-store sales are sales at stores opened at least a year. They are considered the best indicator of a retailer’s health.

While discounters produced disappointing results for September, they still fared better than other mall-based apparel stores.

Wal-Mart announced same-store sales rose 3.3 percent, less than the 3.5 percent increase forecast by Thomson First Call. Kohl’s same-store sales decreased 3.2 percent, in line with expectations. Target’s same-store sales were down 0.8 percent, slightly better than the 1.1 percent decline Wall Street expected.

Among other stores’ same-store sales: Gap down 2 percent; J.C. Penney’s department store business down 3.1 percent; and Talbots down 6.1 percent.