december sales

U.S. shoppers piled up the presents under their Christmas trees, but retailers were still a bit disappointed. The Commerce Department's official tally shows what many suspected: Consumers did most of their holiday buying early this year.

Detroit automakers closed 2009 with mixed results. While overall sales for the year fell, Ford Motor, General Motors and Chrysler Group reported strong December sales as bargain-hungry consumers sought to cinch deals at year's end.

FedEx (FDX) and United Parcel Service (UPS) are gearing up for a busy holiday season with expectations of record-setting numbers of shipments. Their upbeat estimates fly in the face of tepid retail sales and expectations that recession-weary consumers will keep a tight rein on purchases this...