Wal-Mart Forced to Slow Sprawl Due to Economic Crisis

It looks like Wal-Mart is being forced to scale back expansion due to the struggling economy. That means it’s also being forced to scale back its help in perpetuating the absurd amount of suburban sprawl that the superstore has relied on since its birth. But not by all that much.

This year, Wal-Mart built 243 new stores. For 2009, it plans to build 212 new stores, and for 2010 it plans to build 177. The super-retailer will also scale back growth of Sam’s Club. This year, it built 25 new Sam’s Clubs; in 2010, it plans to add 15 to 20.