Analysts were surprised by the soild increase in retail sales and noted that sales in April were also revised to show a respectable gain of 0.4 percent, instead of the original estimate that sales had fallen by 0.2 percent.
Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, said one possible explanation was that consumers have [...]

“Consumers are buying what they need,” said Jennifer Black , president of Jennifer Black %26 Associates, an equity research company in Lake Oswego, Ore. For everything else, shoppers are being pickier and focusing on discounters, she said.According to a preliminary tally by UBS-International Council of Shopping Centers, sales slid 0.5 percent versus its original estimate [...]

By Karen Brettell
NEW YORK, March 12 (Reuters) - The debt of U.S. retailers
is likely to remain under pressure as a slowing economy and
falling home values crimp consumer spending, and luxury
retailers are likely to be among the worst performers.
U.S. retail sales fell at the fastest pace in at least [...]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has quietly amassed a large stake in department store operator J.C. Penney Co Inc (JCP.N: Quote, Profile, Research), The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The article said that while the exact size of the stake is unclear, [...]

New Zealand;s Retail Sales Growth Slows to 0.1% (Update3)
By Tracy Withers
Feb. 15 (Bloomberg) — New Zealand;s retail sales growth
slowed in December as record-high interest rates and more expensive
fuel and food crimped consumer spending.
[...]

Singapore Retail Sales Gain; Buoyant Job Market Spurs Purchases
By Shamim Adam
Feb. 15 (Bloomberg) — Singapore;s retail sales rose more
than expected in December as record job creation and rising
incomes boosted purchases at supermarkets and department stores.
[...]

Solutia, Wickes, Dura, Plastech, Levitt, W.R. Grace: Bankruptcy
By Bill Rochelle
Feb. 13 (Bloomberg) — Solutia Inc., the specialty chemical
manufacturer whose reorganization plan can;t be completed
despite being approved in November, intends to be in bankruptcy
court tomorrow demanding the right to take [...]