SEASON GETS `B' FROM RETAILERS.(BUSINESS)

Byline: JO-ANN JOHNSTON Business writer

Some retailers got bright juicy oranges, some got lumps of coal, and all got lessons in economic Darwinism in the mixed bag that was the 1998 holiday shopping season.

An informal poll of 200 retailers across the state gave the season a letter grade of B, as sales increased 3 percent to 5 percent over 1997 results, according to the Retail Council of New York State.

Some see that as disappointing, as the National Retail Federation in November predicted a stronger showing with increases of 5 percent to 6 percent in sales. The results varied widely from store to store, said Ted Potrikus, vice president of the council.

``I would call it the Christmas without consensus,'' he added. ``Some stores got clobbered, some stores did great. It ran the gamut.''

Home furnishings, for instance, had a strong year …