U.S. Retail Sales Rose Record 18% in May

U.S. Retail Sales Rose Record 18% in May

Shoppers opened their pocketbooks in May as states eased coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses and consumers.

Source: www.wsj.com/articles/shoppers-returned-in-may-likely-spurring-increased-retail-sales-11592299802

J. Crew Blues: The Bankrupt Retailer Looks to the Future

J. Crew Blues: The Bankrupt Retailer Looks to the Future

With its Chapter 11 filing Monday, the retailer is set to get new owners and a slimmer profile.

Source: wwd.com/business-news/financial/j-crew-bankrupt-madewell-coronavirus-retail-fashion-1203627125/

Neiman Marcus Becomes 2nd Major Retailer to Seek Chapter 11

Neiman Marcus Becomes 2nd Major Retailer to Seek Chapter 11

Neiman Marcus has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the first department store chain and second major retailer to be toppled by the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/05/07/business/bc-neiman-marcus-bankruptcy.html?searchResultPosition=4

Pandemic’s Crushing Retail Impact: Is There Any Light?

Pandemic’s Crushing Retail Impact: Is There Any Light?

Amid the health crisis, some retailers see pockets of positive shopping online and some enduring post-pandemic trends.

Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/pandemic-retail-1203553881/

Retailers, Brands Hitting New Lows Amid Mounting COVID-19 Anxiety

Retailers, Brands Hitting New Lows Amid Mounting COVID-19 Anxiety

Businesses are hoping online activity increases as people stay home and social distance.

Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/retail-covid-19-anxiety-1203539774/

Santa Getting Into Gear as Retail Traffic Picks Up

Santa Getting Into Gear as Retail Traffic Picks Up

With Christmas nearing, retail sales are gaining momentum.

Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/holiday-shopping-picking-up-1203401188/

Customer Growth Partners: Back-to-school poised for best growth since 2011

Customer Growth Partners: Back-to-school poised for best growth since 2011

American consumers are ramping up their spending, just in time for the critical back-to-school season.

Source: chainstoreage.com/finance-0/customer-growth-partners-back-to-school-poised-for-best-growth-since-2011

Online surge and long lines mark the start of Black Friday sales

Online surge and long lines mark the start of Black Friday sales

U.S. shoppers hit department stores on Thanksgiving evening and spent $1.75 billion online by 5 p.m. ET as a strong economy and rising wages drove a solid start to the holiday selling season.

Source: www.cnbc.com/2018/11/23/online-surge-and-long-lines-mark-the-start-of-black-friday-sales.html

Edward Lampert’s Plan for Sears: Smaller Stores, Less Apparel

Edward Lampert’s Plan for Sears: Smaller Stores, Less Apparel

Edward Lampert, who steered Sears into bankruptcy and kept it alive with a $5.2 billion offer for its assets, says he will sell or sublease some of the 425 remaining stores, devote extra space to tools and appliances, and open more smaller stores.

Source: www.wsj.com/articles/edward-lampert-shares-his-plan-for-sears-after-bankruptcy-11550053801

Black Friday Weekend Meets Modest Expectations in a Swirl of Highs and Lows

Black Friday Weekend Meets Modest Expectations in a Swirl of Highs and Lows

E-commerce and hardline sales rose dramatically during the Thanksgiving weekend period, keeping many major retailers on track for mid-single-digit holiday gains.

Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/black-friday-retailers-highs-and-lows-1234665072/

Apple re-closes some stores, raising economic concerns

Apple re-closes some stores, raising economic concerns

Apple’s Friday decision to close stores in four states with surging coronavirus cases highlights a question that other businesses may soon face: Stay open or prepare for more shutdowns

Source: www.washingtonpost.com/health/apple-temporarily-closing-11-stores-because-of-health-risks/2020/06/19/e9f4cf86-b254-11ea-98b5-279a6479a1e4_story.html

US Shoppers Returned With Vigor in May in Partial Rebound

US Shoppers Returned With Vigor in May in Partial Rebound

American shoppers ramped up their spending on store purchases by a record 17.7% from April to May, delivering a dose of energy for retailers that have been reeling since the coronavirus shut down businesses, flattened the economy and paralyzed consumers during the previous two months.

Source: www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/06/16/business/bc-us-retail-sales-1st-ld-writethru.html

Coronavirus Lockdowns Trigger Rapid Drop in Retail Sales, Factory Output

Coronavirus Lockdowns Trigger Rapid Drop in Retail Sales, Factory Output

U.S. lockdowns to contain the coronavirus pandemic prompted record monthly drops in retail spending and industrial output, as consumers pulled back sharply on shopping and eating out and factories suffered a sharp drop in demand.

Source: www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-lockdowns-trigger-record-spending-drops-on-shopping-eating-out-11589535000

Macy’s just dealt a big blow to the struggling American mall

Hundreds of American malls are struggling. Their troubles just got worse.

Source: www.msn.com/en-us/finance/companies/macys-just-dealt-a-big-blow-to-the-struggling-american-mall/ar-BBZGx72

Macy’s to Close 125 Department Stores, Exit Weakest Malls

Macy’s to Close 125 Department Stores, Exit Weakest Malls

The department-store operator is cutting back in an admission that a fifth of its locations cannot thrive as shoppers buy more online and make fewer trips to malls.

Source: www.wsj.com/articles/macy-s-to-close-125-department-stores-exit-weakest-malls-11580850007

Simon Property Group in Deal to Acquire Rival Taubman Centers Inc.

Simon Property Group in Deal to Acquire Rival Taubman Centers Inc.

The combination makes strategic sense to Wall Street, but consumers will have the final vote.

Source: wwd.com/business-news/retail/simon-property-group-acquire-taubman-centers-inc-1203475772/

Sears Plan to Get Out of Bankruptcy Has a Familiar Ring

Sears Plan to Get Out of Bankruptcy Has a Familiar Ring

The retailer says it will do more of what it has been doing in recent years: closing stores and borrowing more money from its controlling shareholder.

Source: www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/business/sears-bankruptcy-plan.html

Retailers Rejoice: Christmas Shopping on ‘Super Saturday’ Will Likely Beat ‘Black Friday’ This Year. The Reasons Why

Retailers Rejoice: Christmas Shopping on ‘Super Saturday’ Will Likely Beat ‘Black Friday’ This Year. The Reasons Why

With Christmas on a Tuesday, shoppers get an extra weekend before traveling.

Source: fortune.com/2018/12/19/retailers-christmas-shopping-super-saturday-beat-black-friday-2018/

Strong Economy Can’t Save Macy’s From Retail Shifts

Strong Economy Can’t Save Macy’s From Retail Shifts

The strong U.S. economy wasn’t enough to give many mall-based retailers a strong year-end boost, as Macy’s and others posted tepid holiday sales, fueling a selloff in retail stocks.

Source: www.wsj.com/articles/macys-lowers-annual-guidance-following-slower-holiday-sales-11547128500

Billion-dollar Bragging Rights, Fashion’s New Benchmark

Billion-dollar Bragging Rights, Fashion’s New Benchmark

How many billions does a company need to be taken seriously?

Source: wwd.com/business-news/financial/retail-billion-dollar-club-1203096676/

Holiday Spending Comes Up Worse Than Expected

Holiday Spending Comes Up Worse Than Expected

Government data has been revised to show a bigger December drop.

Source: wwd.com/business-news/government-trade/holiday-spending-worse-than-originally-thought-1203081933/