Costco Wholesale Corp. said Wednesday that it is making plans to start accepting food stamps at its warehouse clubs nationwide. It has tested them at stores in New York state. ...more

October 29, 2009

Retailers, who begrudgingly went along when food makers pushed up prices to recoup record-high costs, are flexing newfound muscle and demanding price cuts to match the recent steep retreat in ingredient costs. ...more

March 21, 2009

Starbucks Corp. began selling its new instant coffee online Tuesday, ahead of a nationwide launch to coincide with the company's first major ad campaign. ...more

February 18, 2009

Starbucks Corp. began selling its new instant coffee online Tuesday, ahead of a nationwide launch to coincide with the company's first major ad campaign. ...more

February 17, 2009

Early reports from several retailers including J.C. Penney Co. and Kohl's Corp. confirmed on Wednesday what Wall Street had expected: a weak start to the back-to-school shopping season. ...more

September 4, 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

Costco Wholesale Corp., which had been one of the few bright spots in retailing, said Wednesday that its earnings will miss Wall Street expectations, as it struggles with higher energy costs that are crimping its bottom line. ...more

July 24, 2008

Shoppers, enticed by heavy discounts and armed with rebate checks, spent freely in June, helping to lift retailers' sales. The outlook for the back-to-school season remains tough, though, as consumers confront high gas and food prices, a slumping housing market and tighter credit. ...more

July 11, 2008

Tap water is making a comeback. With a day's worth of bottled water - the recommended 64 ounces - costing hundreds to thousands of dollars a year depending on the brand, more people are opting to slurp water that comes straight from the sink. ...more

June 23, 2008

Tax rebate checks gave consumers a little extra money in their pockets during May, but most were still spending conservatively, buying necessities such as food and gas and shying away from splurging on clothing or furniture. The result was some better-than-expected sales for the nation's retailers, with lower-priced merchants such as discounters and wholesale clubs showing the strongest gains. ...more

June 6, 2008