The CNN host Piers Morgan heralded Ron Johnson, CEO of J.C. Penney, as the genius behind Apple stores who's now working his magic on J.C. Penney, ignoring the big, fat elephant in the room: Johnson's February makeover of the chain has so far flopped, sinking revenues and alienating shoppers.
Martha Stewart has a new legal problem to contend with: Macy's, which had an exclusive licensing deal with her namesake company, has filed a lawsuit against Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia for hooking up with J.C. Penney.
The Commerce Department's monthly sales tally for November showed unexpected pockets of strength among retailers, including car dealers and online sales. Most retail categories posted higher sales, except clothing and housewares.
