He doesn’t want to sound like the Grinch, but a top regional economist is predicting a poor holiday shopping season ahead. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says it appears the worst of the economic slide may be over — but at the same time, he says the shopping season which traditionally starts the day after Thanksgiving, won’t. He says the increase over last year’s numbers won’t even match the inflation rate. Goss says Iowa’s economy shows some improvement, but is far from healthy.Dr. Goss says stores will be doing all they can to lure in shoppers over the next two months. He says many of the retailers have already adjusted for what they know isn’t going to be a good buying season.He says the real problems will continue to be in the government sector as state sales tax revenues continue to drag.