consumer trends

Oil prices, slow economy hurting entrepreneurs

Sharon Roberts spent several sleepless nights this past spring wondering whether or not to close Buffalo's Southwest Cafe, the business she and her husband, Rick, have operated since 2004."We stayed up at night thinking about... more »

Christian Retail Stores Shelve Old Ideas

At Skia, a new Christian bookstore in Bentonville, Ark., there are comfortable chairs, racks of apparel, a coffee and smoothie bar, and a full corner of the store dedicated to building, of all things, skateboards."It... more »

OneCoast.com Increases Sales by 600 percent

(Pittsburgh) - OneCoast, the largest and only national wholesale provider of gift, home, and collegiate products to retailers throughout the United States, announced its Web site, OneCoast.com, posted a sales increase of over 600% in... more »

National Retail Federation: Sales remain soft despite stimulus checks

Despite the millions of tax rebate checks that were delivered in June, consumer spending remained soft last month, according to National Retail Federation statistics released Tuesday.The trade group reported retail industry sales for June (which... more »

High fuel costs helping small-town businesses, pinching distant malls

Thomasville, Ala. - Residents in once-sleepy Thomasville have started complaining about traffic jams on Route 43, which runs right through the town. Much of the new traffic is coming from shoppers, squeezed by $4-per-gallon gas,... more »

Retail sales shot up for a second month

Flush with rebate checks that didn't get entirely eaten up by gas, food and credit card bills, shoppers boosted the nation's retail sales for the second month in a row, ringing in a 4.3 percent... more »

Trending Up: Summer 2008

AuerhahnStainless steel oil and vinegar set has a matte finish. 51/2" width and 8" height. Designed with a hidden stopper to give precise pouring. 800.999.6347Auerhahn-Bestecke.de Lulu & Merie Inc.Stylized playing card sets come packaged in... more »

Main St. stays a step ahead of recession

Amesbury, MA - As the economy continues to sputter, retailers across the country are hunkering down for a long hot summer. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in May, Americans spent $384 billion on everything... more »