At Jeff Cassels' jewelry store, falling real estate values and rising gold prices are more than news headlines - they are contributors to an uncertain holiday season. At Joanie McDonald's clothing store, however, a weakening dollar is turning into a boon. ...more

December 13, 2007

The changes in fast-growing Pasco County continued this summer. You might notice a few changes here since you left in March or April. ...more

December 7, 2007

Don't ask me where the year went; I haven't a clue. But here we are, at the holidays once again. I keep telling myself that this is not the time of year to try and lose all that weight I need to lose. There's simply too much good (and bad) food. I was really good at Thanksgiving this year, skipping all the desserts. OK, so I was just that full. I couldn't even think about a slice of pie. ...more

December 3, 2007

Just after sunrise the day after Thanksgiving at Westfield Brandon mall, Leah Ciccone burst out of Sears into the parking lot, looked to the sky and shouted, "Oh my God, it's daylight!" ...more

December 1, 2007

After a long weekend of battling maddening crowds at the malls, the last thing most people want to do is go back to the stores after work to do more shopping. ...more

November 27, 2007

SEBRING — Tina Harshman started her Monday morning bright and early by turning on her computer and buying some Christmas gifts online. Cyber Monday, as retailers have tagged the Monday after Thanksgiving, is the busiest day of the year for online shopping. According to a survey for Shop.org, an online arm of the National Retail Federation, 72 million consumers were planning to shop online from home or at work on Cyber Monday, and sales were expected to exceed $700 million. A number of retailers even hosted special sales or offers for the occasion. Harshman found good deals on gifts for her kids at Web sites for Toys "R" Us and Gymboree. ...more

November 27, 2007

The popular but dangerous toy Aqua Dots toy was recalled, but the fliers advertising it apparently were not. ...more

November 26, 2007

As consumers hold tight to their wallets, online retailers will work harder this year for their share of the holiday gift list. ...more

November 26, 2007

With the price of gasoline at more than $3 a gallon, Pasco County residents were giving thanks Friday that they have more local shopping centers to choose from this year. ...more

November 24, 2007

Malls •Prime Outlets at Ellenton: Midnight to 10 p.m. •International Plaza: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ...more

November 23, 2007