Many of the nation's retailers struggled with a sluggish back-to-school season, though Wal-Mart posted higher August sales Thursday as shoppers focused on buying essentials amid worries about high gas and food prices. ...more

September 5, 2008

The outlook for the back-to-school shopping season seemed grim Thursday, as retailers' July sales reports showed an increasing shift toward buying necessities such as food and household supplies at discounters and away from discretionary spending on clothing. ...more

August 8, 2008

Consumers gave some of the nation's retailers a little relief in April after months of dismal sales, gravitating toward less-expensive discounters and wholesale clubs but generally still shying away from stores selling clothes and other non-necessities. ...more

May 9, 2008

Talbots will close its 78 children's and men's apparel stores to focus on its core middle-aged female customer, a retrenchment that follows disappointing sales at Talbots as well as other specialty women's apparel retailers amid tough economic conditions. ...more

January 5, 2008