2010, Retail | featured news

Retail sales and industrial production in April both enjoyed continued growth, reinforcing the sustainability of the economic recovery in the United States. On Friday the U.S. Commerce Department reported retail sales gained 0.4% in April, ahead of Wall Street’s expected 0.2% rise, but below the 2.1% jump in March. Peter Newland, economist at Barclays Capital, notes that the total was driven by a 0.5% increase in both autos and gasoline, and a 6.9% jump in building material sales. All of that is nice, but core sales, which exclude these elements, actually fell 0.2%, which is much weaker than excepted.

Early reports from retailers show that Americans took a a breather from their March shopping spree in April, partly because Easter came earlier. But the spring selling season is ending up respectable, an encouraging sign for the economy....

Retail sales soared in March, the government said Wednesday, in the latest sign of improving consumer confidence.

As Apple Inc gears up for the crush of customers expected for Saturday's iPad launch, employees who staff its retail stores are just as curious about the tablet as the fans who will line up outside.

Retail sales posted a better-than-expected increase in January, a welcome development that could mean stronger economic growth in coming months.

Sales increase 3.3% over a year earlier in a usually slow month. Notably, beleaguered Abercrombie & Fitch posts an 8% increase.