They Stole What?! 7 Bizarre Items Thieves Love
The FBI estimates that retail crime costs the U.S. $30 billion a year, and some household items that people steal may surprise you.
national retail federation
Retail, Fast Food Stocks Stung by Obama's Minimum Wage Push
President Obama's State of the Union proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour has the retail industry on edge and fast food stocks struggling.
NRF Expo: The 4 Coolest Things We Saw at Retail's BIG Show
The annual National Retail Federation Expo isn't exactly overflowing with consumer-facing innovations: Most of the floor space goes to companies pitching behind-the-scenes gear and software for merchants. Still, there were some cool technologies on display that caught our eye.
Walmart's Patriotic Pledge: We'll Hire Any Veteran Who Wants a Job
Walmart is making a bold promise to hire every veteran who wants to work there. The world's largest retailer and the nation's largest private employer says it projects it will hire more than 100,000 veterans in the next five years.
Crocs CEO Explains Why He Isn't Wearing Crocs
We caught up with Crocs CEO John McCarvel at the National Retail Federation's annual expo Monday, where he received the award for Retail Innovator of the Year. And we couldn't help but notice that he wasn't wearing Crocs.
Last-Minute Christmas Shopping Guide
The kick-off to the holiday season gets earlier every year, but that doesn't mean that consumers are getting better at finishing their shopping early. As the National Retail Federation notes, American consumers typically have about half their holiday shopping left to go in mid-December.
Holiday Shopping Calendar: Your List of the Best Days to Buy
Black Friday has been around for decades, but in the last several years, the holiday shopping season has gained a number of additional "special" shopping days. So if you're looking for the right days for deals, (or when to avoid the crowds) here's a run-down of all the retail deal days worth knowing.
Five Big Surprises from Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the two most heavily hyped shopping days of the season, are behind us: Online retail sales were fantastic, and Amazon and Walmart had nice weekends. But anyone could have predicted that. Here are a few results of the big shopping weekend you probably didn't see coming.
Pop Quiz: A Brief and Bizarre History of Black Friday
As we head into the retail combat that is Black Friday, we wanted to reflect on where annual shopping frenzy came from, and recap some of the worst tales to come out of it. With that in mind, we offer our Black Friday Pop Quiz.
5 Things You Shouldn't Buy on Black Friday
According to the National Retail Federation, 147 million Americans plan to shop on Black Friday weekend, because that's when they'll get the best deals. But that's just not always so. For these five types of purchase, you'd be better off skipping the post-Thanksgiving stampede.
Boost Your Holiday Shopping Power With Plastic. Yes, Plastic.
Holiday shopping season kicks off next week with Black Friday's big sales, but you don't fight through the throngs to snag savings: Here are four ways the best shopping rewards credit cards can save you a small fortune.
Is Cyber Monday Obsolete?
It was only seven years ago that some clever folks at Shop.org decided to promote e-commerce with its own version of Black Friday, and Cyber Monday was born. But in our smartphone- and tablet-powered world, holiday shopping is getting more "cyber" every year. Does online retail still need its special day?
Can Retailers Beat 'Showrooming' This Christmas?
Traditional brick-and-mortar retailers are turning from stores where people buy things into showrooms for e-commerce sites. But this holiday season, with their most important quarter of the year hanging in the balance, they're fighting back hard.
Online Shopping (and Fraud) Likely to Soar This Holiday Season
When it comes to holiday shopping, there's one trend you can count on every year: Online sales will grow like gangbusters. But whether you're on a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone, it's important to remember that buying online carries extra risks of identity theft and fraud.
Holiday Retail Sales Prediction: 4.1 Percent Higher Than 2012
Americans are expected to spend more during what's traditionally the busiest shopping season of the year, but they're not exactly ready to shop 'til they drop like they have been in the past two years.
Back-to-School Shoppers Will Spend More, Bargain-Hunt Harder
Parents are expected to spend more on hoodies, backpacks and notebooks for their kids this back-to-school season, but they'll also be laser-focused on bargains as they scour stores and e-commerce sites for the best deals.
Sales Taxes for Online Retailers Move Closer to Reality
Brick-and-mortar retailers have long complained that e-commerce sites enjoy an unfair advantage since they don't have to collect state sales taxes, allowing them to offer lower prices. The Marketplace Equity Act would change that -- and it's gaining momentum.
5 Father's Day Gifts That Go Beyond the Cliches
You don't want to get dad another tie for Father's Day, and he has enough barbecue tools, but coming up with a unique, imaginative present is tough. Let us help: These cool, reasonably-priced gifts are sure to give dad a smile.
GOP's Anti-Union Measure Fails in the Senate
The Senate rejected a Republican attempt Tuesday to overturn new regulations designed to give unions quicker representation elections in their effort to organize more workplaces. One GOP senator, Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, joined the unanimous Democrats in backing the new NLRB rules.
Easter Spending to Rise as Spring Fashions, Candy Lure Shoppers
It'll be a good Easter for sellers of brightly colored outfits and chocolate bunnies: Americans are expected to shell out 11% more for the holiday this year.
Share Your Ideas for a Sweet but Frugal Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is coming, which means that millions of men are getting ready to drop money on Whitman's samplers and red roses. But there are other options out there -- and we know that our faithful readers have explored at least a few of them.
I Love (to Shop for) You: Valentine's Spending to Rise
Chances are, you'll be more generous with your honey this Valentine's Day than last. Consumer spending on the holiday is expected to exceed last year's levels, according to the NRF and American Express.
Super Bowl Spending Is Up ... and It's Good
Retailers and consumer products companies are on charging downfield toward a touchdown on Super Bowl Sunday. Consumer spending related to the big game is expected to reach an all-time high this year, with the average watcher projected to shell out $63.87 on Super Bowl-related merchandise.
Happy Chinese New Year! Your Item Is Back-Ordered
Chinese New Year kicked off on Monday, and the celebration of the new lunar cycle will effect you than you might think. When the country that manufactures so much of what we buy goes on vacation for two weeks, U.S. retail can hardly act like it's business as usual.
Stores Go Both High-Tech and Homey to Lure You In
Retailers are spicing up their brick-and-mortar stores to keep you walking through the door. Their game plan? To design environments that are equal parts high-tech and homespun. But will the changes be enough to keep physical stores from being reduced to showrooms for e-commerce sites?
Bill Clinton's Prescription for the U.S. Economy
Former President Bill Clinton offered up some wide-ranging prescriptions for curing the nation's ailing economy in a speech at the National Retail Federation's annual convention Monday, from investing in new sectors for job growth to cutting taxes on business.
How Sears Can Save Itself: Buy and Sell American
On Tuesday, Sears Holdings announced it would close as many as 120 Sears and Kmart stores after a holiday sales season in which it fell flat on its face. What Sears really needs is a new image -- an idea that will lure shoppers back. Could "Made in the USA" be it?
How to Get Great Deals from Desperate Retailers
The holiday season has been strong for retail sales overall, but some chains have still found lumps of coal in their stockings. And as the holiday season winds down, what's bad for retailers may be good for you.
Top Retail Trade Group Upgrades Holiday Forecast
With the final Christmas countdown begun, the National Retail Federation has upgraded its holiday sales forecast, reflecting growing optimism that much more spending is to come. The NRF now expects holiday sales to rise 3.8% to a record $469.1 billion. That's up from its more modest 2.8 percent forecast made in early October, though it's hardly stellar.
Holiday Shopping: Self-Gifting Is On the Rise
Recession-scarred shoppers are tired of cutting back, and they're ready to give in to their pent up spending impulses, experts say. So after a few years of austerity, this holiday season, many people are going to be splurging a bit more on presents for themselves.