With the economy eroding at an alarming pace, it is no wonder investors are turning away from their former retail haunts filled with trendy, over-priced items.

Stores like Whole Foods (NASDAQ:WFMI) and Trader Joes are watching their customers head to low-cost competitors like Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) and Safeway (NYSE:SWY).

It is no surprise to see an ultra-cheap retailer like 99 Cents Only Stores (NYSE:NDN) climb its way to the sole spot on the list of companies reaching 52-week highs today. The global economic crisis has actually been the best thing to happen to the company’s share price in a long time.

The rationale behind the positive run is obvious. When the economy is in the gutter, consumers have less money to spend on the things…

Brian Hunt brings you the New Highs and Lows of note last week.

Deere’s Bountiful Harvest; Dupont Teams Up with Danisco; Miller Takes Over Grolsch Distribution; China Quake May Pause Interest Rate Hike; Aluminum Corp. of China May Nab BHP Stake; Whole Food Drops on Disappointing Sales Gain; Food Costs Sink Jack in the Box; Freddie Mac Gets Creative with the Books.

I may have been premature when I asked you to short Whole Foods Market, Inc. (WFMI:Nasdaq) on April 24.