consumer spending

The New Normal: Shoppers Aren’t Spending Like They Used to, and May Never Again

The recession has created a different kind of shopper and that's having a profound impact on retailers including ones in the Northwest. This week we've been airing a series called "The New Normal." We've heard... more »

US consumer confidence hits nine-month high

US consumer confidence rose in June to its highest level in nine months as a recent stock market rally and signs of economic stability have begun to peel away some of gloom cast by the... more »

Surprise increase in retail sales

New York -- Retail sales unexpectedly rose in January, giving hard-hit retailers some respite after six straight months of sales erosion, the government reported Thursday.The Commerce Department said total retail sales rose 1% last month... more »

Despite economic storm clouds, local merchants stay hopeful for Mardi Gras

Batool Ali is worried that the feather boas and Carnival masks she usually can't keep on the shelves during Mardi Gras season will be slow to move this year as visitors to her French Quarter... more »

Local flower shop owners fear lower sales this Valentine’s Day

Middletown — Poor weather and a Saturday holiday have local shops worried about slow sales this Valentine's Day.While a survey by the National Retail Federation finds that consumers plan to spend nearly $102 — 17... more »

Shopaholics will be shopaholics

The idea of a movie called "Confessions of a Shopaholic" arriving in multiplexes at a time when Americans are dramatically cutting back may sound like a recipe for an empty theater. But don't tell that... more »

Merchant creates a sign of the times to ask for support

Martinsburg, WV - It's quite possible that Freda Svoboda has never met a stranger.That's especially true when folks enter her cozy gift and craft shop, Freda's Creations, the kind of inviting place where people stop... more »

Consumers get frugal, so retailers get creative

For years, dietitians have urged Americans to practice mindful eating. Eat slowly. Savor every bite. If eating chocolate cake, make sure it's really good chocolate cake. Now, as the country slogs through the worst recession... more »