consumer trends

Retailers get last-minute gift in December sales surge

Retailers pulled off a better-than-expected holiday season as rising consumer confidence -- and a last-minute shopping spree -- pushed sales higher in December, according to results released Thursday.For about three dozen of the country's biggest... more »

Santa delivers for U.S. retailers

New York -- Inventory control, coupled with last-minute shopping and post-holiday bargain hunting, drove U.S. retailers' best monthly sales in more than 20 months, results showed Thursday, and several -- from discounter Target Corp. to... more »

Merchants pleased with sales

One size didn't necessarily fit all.But gift cards proved to be a uniform solution for many Shoppers Drug Mart Christmas customers this year."Gift cards for me, were like a 'wow,'" said SDM Store Manager Sandy... more »

Recession resonated with Evanston shoppers over holidays

Despite a rise in consumer confidence, several Evanston businesses said sales have been slow, even during the holiday season. The Consumer Confidence Index, a measure of consumers' attitudes toward the economy, rose for the second... more »

Retail makes a comeback

The shopping masses, as is traditionally the case, started to descend on stores on Black Friday.The push remained fairly constant through the holiday season locally and nationally. Now it's time to take stock of what... more »

Retailers’ pockets jingling after spirited holiday shopping season

Despite the struggling economy, SouthCoast retailers enjoyed a gift from consumers this season with relatively strong sales. While retail chains have not yet released their end-of-the-year numbers, local stores saw steady business in the days... more »

Evidence grows of upswing in retail

If the crowds seemed thicker this year as you did your holiday shopping, that's because they probably were.Hard numbers won't be available until individual retailers report sales in early January, but local retailers are expecting... more »

Recession? Teenagers Get It, and Are Cutting Back

After a year of observing their parents pinch pennies and fret about the economy, the nation's teenagers may be coming to grips with reality.Sales are down sharply in recent months at nearly every major retail... more »