Much to retailers' surprise, old man winter didn't deter consumers from the post-holiday clearance sales. Merchants posted better-than-expected January results despite the dreadful weather that had caused many analysts to cool their forecasts.
While news that Groupon has rebuffed Google's $6 billion offer has stolen the limelight, Amazon's $175 million investment in LivingSocial could end up shaking up the daily-deal business and helping the No. 2 e-coupon company gain ground against Groupon.
Thrifty shoppers looking for low prices on basics are frequently passing up the big boxes of Walmart for the tighter aisles of their local dollar stores. The cheaper upstarts have replaced no-name products with nationally known brands and revamped their interiors to lure in a new crop of bargain hungry customers.
Big merchants got an early Christmas present this year: Better-than expected November sales. This group posted 6% sales growth compared to 2009, far ahead of most forecasts for 3% to 4% growth. But bargain-hunting is likely to continue in December.
As retailers wrapped up their earnings reports this week, most said they're back in cost-control mode and will tighten inventories after the holidays. Shoppers are still spending cautiously and costs are on the rise, so profits will have to be squeezed out of slowly rising sales.
Formula Capital's James Altucher says that there has never been a better time to pick up high-quality stocks at bargain prices -- as long as you choose the right ones. Altucher recommends three "beaten over the head with a bat" stocks he expects will double in the next one to two years.
