A jump of 2.6 points to 74.2 in December put this index at a six-month high. And the current conditions component rose to its best level in about three years. Helping to stoke optimism was consumers’ anticipation that the Bush …
Retailers and shipping companies are adding fewer new jobs than they did a year ago. One reason: employers began shopping for seasonal workers earlier than usual, boosting hiring in October. But if holiday retail sales hold up,…
Retailers and shipping companies are adding fewer new jobs than they did a year ago. One reason: employers began shopping for seasonal workers earlier than usual, boosting hiring in October. But if holiday retail sales hold up,…
On Wall Street, the retail sales figures that count aren’t absolute numbers. Investors act based on how those numbers compare to what was expected, and in the case of Black Friday Internet sales, reality beat the predictions. T…
Expect your T-shirts to get a little bit thinner next year — and maybe a little more expensive. Apparel retailers are looking high and low for ways to keep from passing on too much of their own rising costs to consumers. The t…