consumer trends

Retail sales jump 6% in November

Lured by steep discounts, shoppers stormed the nation's retailers in November — but to keep the momentum going, analysts say, merchants will need to keep pushing discounts."Given that there's one less shopping weekend in December,... more »

Trending Up Fall 2010

TeroformaDesigner Josh Jakus adapts the idea of flat pack furniture to a breadbasket. A flat piece of felt folds into shape when two tabs are tucked into two slots. Keeps baked goods warm. 100% wool felt. New... more »

Fall Forecast 2010

They're a Hoot! Fluffy owls are showing up everywhere from dinner plates and jewelry to table linens and toys. Nest these winged nocturnals in your store and watch sales soar. Resources Midwest-CBK800.394.4225 www.mwcbk.com Jack Rabbit... more »

Consumer confidence ticks up in October

New York, NY - Americans got slightly more optimistic about the economy in October, but still have an overwhelmingly gloomy outlook, according to the latest reading on consumer morale.The Consumer Confidence Index rose to 50.2... more »

Retail group’s analysis paints dire image of a value-added tax

Piling a European-style sales tax on top of the existing U.S. tax structure would immediately destroy 850,000 jobs and damage retail spending for years to come, according to an economic analysis commissioned by the National... more »

Retailers’ Holiday Hinges on Discounts

Forecasters expect a better holiday season for U.S. retailers, but say the price will be more discounts to get consumers shopping.The National Retail Federation expects holiday sales to rise 2.3% over last year to $447.1... more »

Holiday retail sales forecast

Holiday retail sales forecasting begins in earnest during the month of September. "Back to School" and Labor Day sales are the early indicators. Usually apparel sales perform better during this period than during the holiday... more »

City seeing retail boom

UK — Lancaster is bucking a national trend of High Street closures and is showing signs of recovering from recession, a nationwide survey suggests.New shops are opening and the overall number of vacant units has stabilised,... more »