Wal-Mart staffs up

While almost every other large retailer is cutting jobs, Wal-Mart (WMT) says it will add 22,000 new workers this year. That may be down some from 2009, but it says a great deal about the world's largest retailer's strength and success during the recession.

Wal-Mart has been adroit at keeping its prices low during the downturn. While the chain has often done well bringing in low-income shoppers, the middle classes now shop at the stores as their credit has been pinched and their salaries frozen.