family dollar

Dollar stores are luring a lot more consumers these days, and their rock-bottom prices aren't the only reason: The chains have undergone major makeovers in recent years, sprucing up their dingy digs and adding better merchandise.

Walmart is struggling to end its declining same store sales, which have faltered over the past nine consecutive quarters. It's no wonder: With massive unemployment, discount retailers have to pull out all the stops to win over new customers, or even retain the ones they have. Re-enter layaways, which Walmart shelved in 2006.

Family Dollar Stores recalled about 67,000 remote-controlled toy tanks after getting five reports of the controllers overheating and melting, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. So far, no one has been burned by the toys, but consumers should take the toy away from children, remove...

The new year's first week will be busy. Due out on Friday is December's umemployment rate, and the consensus is for it to drop to 9.7%. However, few expect real improvement until well into 2011. Also on tap: weekly and monthly chain-store sales, FOMC minutes, ISM services report and more.

As year-end nears, investors are in for a surprise about which stocks in the S&P 500 spearheaded the unexpectedly robust upswing in 2010. Hint: Cummins is the only economy-driven name in the bunch. Plus: Goldman Sachs on how 2011 could turn out.

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.

Many of us regularly shop dollar stores for household items and holiday-related items. I typically find most everything for entertaining like cooking pans, extra serving pieces, gift wrap and cookie tins (seriously, why would anyone pay those prices at The Container Store for holiday themed tins...

Pharmacy giant Walgreen's earnings are expected to be flat year-over-year, while Family Dollar Stores and electronics manufacturer Jabil Circuit are expected to post earnings gains.

Billionaire investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Group has taken an approximately 6.6% stake in Family Dollar, saying the stock is currently undervalued in the market, according to a Wednesday SEC filing. Shares of the discount retailer jumped 6.9% in early trading.

Retailers posted mixed results for June same-store sales, with some big surprises -- Abercrombie & Fitch -- and some major disappointments -- Target. Take a look at the bull and bear arguments for some retail stock picks.