New York ? The outlook for the holiday shopping season grew murkier Thursday as September sales results from the nation’s big retailers suggested that consumer anxiety about the economy is growing.

Discounters like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had a solid month as Americans struggling with higher gasoline prices and the economic fallout from Hurricane Katrina shopped for basics.

But results were disappointing at mall-based apparel stores including Gap Inc., Ann Taylor Corp. and Talbots Inc.

The question now is how generous will shoppers be during the holiday season.

“Uncertainty is always bad for retailers,” said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at The International Council of Shopping Centers.

Niemira added that the only certainty is that the broad retailing trend hasn’t changed – teen retailers and high-end stores continue to do generally well while the rest of the industry struggles.