The Japanese are the world’s most voracious consumers of luxury goods, from Louis Vuitton handbags to Cartier jewelry to Hermes high fashion. So purveyors of those luxury goods are justifiably worried about the effect of the Ja…
Retailers got some unexpected love from shoppers in the form of strong February sales. But whether consumers repeat the feat in spring could depend on gasoline prices and how they feel about their finances. So, March could be t…
Most forecasts expect the month will show 3% growth or better over the same time last year when major merchants report their tallies on Thursday. One thing seems clear: Higher-end households were more willing to spend than lowe…
As the economy improves, Americans have begun splurging again. But they’re limiting their indulgences to haircuts, casual dining and coffee, while continuing to forego many bigger expenditures, like vacations and dining at expe…
Many shoppers who took advantage of the early holiday sales in November held back and forced retailers to cut prices as Christmas neared. Despite increases in luxury spending, the results show that mainstream consumers remain f…