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J.C. Penney Co.’s transformation team started to unravel on Monday. Penney president Michael Francis was fired after only eight months as the No. 2 executive at the Plano-based department store chain. Francis’ abrupt departure appears to be another corrective step from CEO Ron Johnson, who recently acknowledged that Penney’s marketing message has confused shoppers.

U.S. sales of new video game hardware, software and accessories though retail stores fell 28% in May from a year ago, according to new data from market research firm NPD Group. For the month, total sales were $516.5 million, down from $718.9 million in the same month a year earlier.

U.S. retail sales declined in April and May, pulled down by a sharp drop in gas prices. But even after excluding volatile gas sales, consumers barely increased their spending... Americans did spend more in May on big purchases. Sales of cars, furniture and appliances all increased. That suggests consumers may be gaining more confidence in the economy.

Barnes & Noble told the U.S. Justice Department that a proposed price-fixing settlement with several major book publishers will hurt the company and consumers.

The company’s founder, Richard Schulze, said he was leaving the board immediately and also said he was looking to sell his 20.1 percent stake in the retailer, worth about $1.3 billion.

Amazon has set a torrid hiring pace in recent months, accelerating a rate of employee acquisitions that was already well ahead of most large corporations.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's economy stuttered unexpectedly in April with lower than expected output data, softening retail sales and easing prices suggesting economic headwinds might be stiffer than thought, requiring more robust policy responses to counter them.

Macy's reported higher fiscal-first-quarter earnings on solid sales gains and constraints on overhead costs.

Buying a smart phone from a third-party, discount online retailer might seem like a shrewd move, but a $50 discount could cost you $400 later if something goes wrong.

The online retailer is now using its vast resources to become a major seller of high-end clothing.