Wal-Mart is missing out on the consumer comeback. The world’s largest retailer failed to reverse an almost two-year slide in a key revenue measure in its fourth quarter, it said Tuesday, after all but promising in November it would do just that. At Wal-Mart, fewer customers are coming in the door. At most other retailers, [...]
After six consecutive quarters in retreat, businesses in the third quarter increased spending on new computers and software at an annual rate of 1.1%. That marked an about-face from the first quarter’s annualized 36.4% plunge. Indications that business spending is starting to revive are vital to future growth — because there is no political support [...]
Christmas shoppers this year are expected to shop with a little more glee compared with last year’s gloomy holiday sales season, but Halloween sales are slated to plummet as shoppers spend an estimated 15.4% less than last year, according to two separate studies by the International Council of Shopping Centers and National Retail Federation. Last [...]
Some economists are hopeful after observing a somewhat obscure economic indicator, which revealed that consumers are feeling more optimistic about the future: there’s been an upswing in recreational vehicle purchases. Consumer confidence is expected to show modest improvement in a report being released today, but some economists see RV sales as a leading indicator of [...]
Spending money wisely, from home repair to shopping
