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Department stores and general merchandise stores helped June have a strong increase in retail sales. Department stores rose .7% to $13.2 billion and general merchandise stores rose .4% to $56.1 billion. Overall, retail sales rose .6% in June, to $457 billion, above economists’ expectations for the month. “June’s retail sales grew at a solid pace... Read more »

After the housing crash of 2006, the US home remodeling market saw its worst downturn in history. Growth in home improvement spending has grown on average about 4.9% since then. Now, with home equity back and home prices on the rise, people are putting their cash to work to remodel and repair their homes. Growth... Read more »

The 2016 Harris Poll EquiTrend Retail Brands of the Year study results were announced, with several retailers getting high points for engaging customers. For the fourth straight year, 2 brands took top honors in their segment categories: The Home Depot for hardware and home brand of the year, and Kohls.com as online department store of... Read more »

As you look around your local restaurants, convenience stores and retailers, do you see people hard focused on their phones, and looking for something at that establishment you cannot see? Most likely these are users of the new, very popular, Pokemon Go app, getting explorers to go out into the real world with their avatars.... Read more »

  High income shoppers in the U.S. have had their confidence shaken in recent months. Between Britain’s vote to leave the E.U. and economic uncertainty in China, coupled with global stock market and currency swings, luxury brands are suffering. China is attempting to drive down conspicuous consumption amid a slowing economy, and Chinese tourism growth... Read more »

School just got out, and everyone is gearing up for the big Independence Day summer holiday. But retailers are already thinking about Back to School, wanting to clear out summer inventory to make way for Back to School sales that will start right after July 4. So where will the biggest savings be, and on... Read more »

With new technologies hitting the market on a regular basis, the retail industry is constantly evolving. Most retailers now operate in a technologically sophisticated omnichannel environment that includes strategies to enhance selling, including online, mobile retail and social media marketing. In a 2015 retail industry survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, findings revealed that technology is making... Read more »

Retail giant Macy’s is set to debut a new store design at its remodeled location in Easton Town Center in Columbus, OH later this month. According to a report by The Columbus Dispatch, construction began on March 27th – with work taking place as the store stayed open – and the new store design prototype... Read more »

According to the Commerce Department, U.S. retail sales rose 0.5% in May, beating a forecasted increase of just 0.3%. This followed a 1.3% increase in April and lifted sales 2.5% from a year ago. The second straight month of gains was fueled by Americans purchasing automobiles and a range of other goods, suggesting economic growth... Read more »