Feeds
Deal-craving shoppers helped a trio of prominent U.S. retailers report Tuesday that their third quarter managed to improve this year.
For online holiday shopping this season, get your Facebook and Twitter on, consider expanding your repertoire of retailers and bring your most comfortable slippers. It’s going to be a more challenging effort this year than last when the recession was “new,” and retailers were frantically pushing heavily discounted products from HDTVs to clothing.
October's retail sales results, the best performance since April 2008, show that Americans are spending a little more. But will they be willing to pay full price this holiday season?
Here are comparisons of how major stores in four key areas of retailing fared in September compared with a year earlier.
Americans are finally spending a little more, but they're playing hard to get.
NEW YORK - The stock market thinks the economic recovery is under way. It had better be right.
The stock market's recent rally has been based on expectations for a pick up in profits. If they don't materialize, the market could be headed for a fall. By msnbc.com's John W. Schoen.
The Great Recession and Americans' retreat into thriftiness are teaching retailers a new lesson: How to survive when consumers are focused on "needs" rather than "wants."
The care offered at health clinics in retail stores often costs less and is just as good as that offered at doctors' offices and urgent care centers, says the first large-scale study of U.S. retail clinics.
As shoppers limited back-to-school purchases in August, upscale retailers suffered while some lower-priced chains showed signs of improvement and that the holiday season could be less dismal than feared.
Summary of how August sales at established stores of drug chains compared with sales in August 2008.
Summary of comparisons of August sales at discount chains' established stores vs. August 2008.
Summary of comparisons of August sales at established department stores against August 2008.
Summary of comparisons of August sales at established apparel stores against August 2008.
Shoppers limited their back-to-school purchases and stayed focused on necessities in August, resulting in the 12th straight month of declining sales for retailers. But there were signs the holiday season could be less dismal than feared.
It may be the beginning of the year for students, but for retailers, it's report-card time. Analysts expect the early grades on the back-to-school selling season to be weak when retailers report August results Thursday.
Doctors shouldn't have much to fear from the likes of Wal-Mart or Walgreens but the fact is retail health clinics are becoming a growing phenomenon and are winning the battle against the person in the white coat.
Second-quarter profits from major retailers underscore how cost-cutting moves helped profitability, and the market saw reason for hope in the four reports Tuesday. But retailers continue to grapple with weak consumer spending.
When the Sky & More mall opened in Riga in 2007, retailers hoped its expensive boutiques and upscale supermarket would draw well-off Latvians on their way home to the pine-forested neighborhoods on the capital's north side.
Retailers that reported their second-quarter earnings Tuesday made big strides in profitability from a year ago by slashing inventory and other costs, but executives predicted shoppers will remain tightfisted.
Upcoming state sales tax holidays may be incentive enough for you to treat yourself to a little shop-cation.
Shoppers remained tight-fisted in July, raising concern about the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons as well as for the broader economic recovery.
It's still early, but analysts' grades already are coming in: the back-to-school shopping season is off to a lousy start.
Retail sales advanced in June by the largest amount in five months, led by a surge in gasoline prices and a slight rebound in the battered auto sector.
UPS pegs Dec. 21 as busiest day of 2009UPS Inc., the world's largest shipping carrier, expects to deliver roughly 22 million small packages on its busiest day this year - projected to be Dec. 21.
The Donald's new gig: Selling vitaminsDonald Trump is synonymous with luxury high-rises, his TV show and his distinctive hairstyle. Now he's putting his name on a vitamin and health products business.
JC Penney to stop publishing 'big book' catalogsJ.C. Penney will stop publishing its twice-yearly "big book" catalogs, now that customers increasingly shop online.
Wal-Mart confirms some Black Friday dealsWal-Mart Stores is confirming some of the deals it will be push to draw crowds for the day after Thanksgiving.
Confessions of a credit card telemarketer - The Red Tape Chronicles - msnbc.com"I hate flat-out lying to someone, but that's exactly what we do, 150 calls a day. I have seen so many people ripped off that I had to attempt to let people know." "Honestly, the little old ladies are the people who buy the most."
Bailed-out companies mute holiday partiesSome of the nation's large companies - and particularly those that have received government funding -are reining in their 2009 holiday party plans.
Ikea's heart of darkness: A tale of racism, lies and Swedish meatballs Ikea looks like a model of openness and visibility. From its voluminous warehouse-size stores to its furniture's clean lines, the retailer presents a vision of honesty and total disclosure.
Strong autos lift October retail salesSales at U.S. retailers rose more than expected in October as consumers bought more motor vehicles and other goods, but the previous month's figures were revised sharply downward, a government report showed on Monday.
With holiday sales projected to be down from last year retailers look to get off to a good start this Black Friday. The National Retail Federation projects that sales this holiday season will be down 3% from last year.
Americans may be settling into spending lessAmericans spent about the same amount in October as in August and September, according to figures released by a key data service, and they may be settling into new low-spending habits.
Marijuana Store Opens Without PermitGILROY, Calif. -- A medical marijuana dispensary that opened in Gilroy without city permission is stirring up controversy.
FedEx projects busier holiday peakFedEx forecasts it will ship 13 million packages on Dec. 14, which it expects to be its busiest day this year, up more than 8 percent over last year
Scared retailers create shortages of hot toysRobotic toy hamsters, the latest Barbie dolls and stylish boots are disappearing from store shelves as holiday shoppers start to get serious.
Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target in DVD price warWal-Mart Stores Inc. is upping the ante heading into the holiday season, trimming the online preorder prices of some upcoming DVDs following last month's price cut on books.
Borders to close 200 Waldenbooks, cut jobsBorders, the second-largest U.S. bookstore chain, said Thursday it would shutter more of its small-format Waldenbooks stores in January as it focuses on its more profitable superstores.
Google unveils search tool for retail sitesGoogle introduced a new Commerce Search tool for retailers on Wednesday to try to make the online shopping experience easier for consumers as the holidays approach.
Retailers report mixed sales results for OctoberShoppers, enticed by cooler weather and holiday discounts, opened their wallets a bit more but were still restrained from splurging on apparel amid tight credit and a weak job market.
CIT Group's biggest hurdle: Keeping customersCIT is one of the nation's biggest lenders to small and mid-sized businesses, providing financing to a large array of businesses including retailers, energy companies, a small movie studio, and operators of Dunkin' Donuts stores.
BusinessWeek: Hot gifts for the holidaysA look at what would look good under the tree or in a stocking
Retailers scramble to adapt to new realitiesAs holiday shopping season begins, some analysts are already worried that too many retailers are taking a business-as-usual approach to an era that is anything but usual.
Good October retail sales numbers predictedU.S. retailers are expected to post positive October sales results this week, but investors hoping for a clear signal on economic recovery could be in for disappointment.
Sears to offer a month of 'Black Fridays'Sears took "Christmas creep" one step further Wednesday, pitching its weekly sales as "Black Friday doorbuster" deals before Halloween.
Wal-Mart now selling caskets, urns onlineWal-Mart has started selling caskets on its Web site at prices that undercut many funeral homes, long the major seller of caskets.
Costco to accept food stamps nationwideCostco says it will start accepting food stamps at its warehouse clubs nationwide after testing them at stores in New York.
Log In | Register
