retail sales

The web took a larger share of retail sales as e-commerce picked up in the 4th quarter

In a down year for the U.S. economy, online retailers took market share from offline retailers, according to the Census Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Online retail sales in the fourth quarter grew 14.4% on an adjusted basis over the fourth quarter of 2008, reaching $35.9 billion, the Department of Commerce reported. For the year, e-commerce sales increased 2.0% to $134.9 billion. Read more...

Winter Doesn't Freeze U.S. Retail

U.S. consumers didn't let snow or frigid temperatures stop them from shopping in January. And if they couldn't get to the malls, there was always the Internet.

Retail sales increased a larger-than-expected 0.5% last month, more than recovering a 0.1% loss of December. Sales might have increased even more if not for the lack of inventory. The latest retail data suggest real gross domestic product is on a solid track, even though February's storms cut into business activity. Read more...

Big retailers report strong sales gains in January

The 3.3% increase over the previous year cheers merchants but shoppers are still exercising restraint. Nordstrom and TJX post double-digit gains. Read more...

Retailers try new survival strategies for 2010

New York — The recession pushed shoppers to pick necessities over discretionary items, discounts over luxury. But retailers hope to shift such behavioral changes further in coming months, affecting what consumers will buy, pay and experience at stores. Read more...

Retail body forecasts 2.5% US sales rise

Retail sales in the US are set to rebound this year, according to the National Retail Federation industry group.

The NRF said it expected "positive signs" from the housing market and employment levels to strengthen consumer confidence throughout the year. Read more...

Indie stores report better end-of-year sales

Independent stores nationwide seem to have done as well or better than the chain-dominated retail industry during the 2009 holidays, according to a survey issued Thursday.

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance in Washington, D.C., said sales were up 2.2 percent in November and December versus the same period in 2008 among roughly 1,800 independent businesses nationwide that took part in its survey. Read more...

When is a sale the real deal?

If a store offers a dishwasher on sale for most of the year, is it fair to say that the dishwasher is really being sold at a genuine discount?

Retailers are now allowed to sell merchandise - from furniture and kitchen appliances to shampoo - at so-called sale prices up to 69 percent of the year, meaning they can be offered at the regular price just 31 percent of the time. The change is significant because for nearly two decades, state regulations have prevented retailers from designating a product as being “on sale’’ unless it was offered at a higher price at least 55 percent of the time. Read more...

Are shops richer or poorer?

Shops should be dropping like flies right now. If the front pages before Christmas were right, there should be a "bloodbath on the high street".

But things don't always work out the way headline writers would like. In fact, it was the best Christmas in eight years, according to the British Retail Consortium. Like-for-like Christmas sales were up by 4.4% in value. Read more...

U.S. Retailers Hopeful 2010 Sales Will Spike Higher

Investors are hoping 2010 will be a turnaround year for the U.S. economy and the stock markets. They’re hoping stronger consumer spending than we saw in 2009 will prompt the turnaround.

Wall Street started the new year riding momentum from last year's strong rally. However, now the focus is on the health of the American consumer. UPI.com reports that retail sales fell sharply in the week ending Jan. 9, 2010. Although U.S. retailers reported retail sales were down 3% from the previous week, they were up 1.7% from the same week a year ago. Read more...

U.S. Retailers Prefer to Keep the Champagne on Ice

On the eve of tomorrow’s Commerce Department report on December retail sales, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Goldman Sachs released a combined report showing U.S. chain store sales dropping 3% for the week ending Jan. 9. U.S. retailers are hoping for a promising report, but know full well of the challenges they face in the first quarter of 2010. Read more...