Retailers report sales declines for September as shoppers worry about jobs, tight credit

October 14th, 2009 Sept. retail sales fall 1.5 percent post ClunkersWASHINGTON — Retail sales declined in September by the largest amount this year as car sales plummeted following the end of the government's popular Cash for Clunkers program. But outside of autos, sales were better than expected.

October 14th, 2009 Worries persist despite some retail sales strengthWASHINGTON — Retail sales outside of autos showed surprising strength in September, but economists worry the rebound in all-important consumer spending will be short-lived as American families contend with rising unemployment and tight credit. Removing autos, sales rose a better-than-expected 0.5 percent, led by gains at furniture stores, general merchandise stores and specialty clothing stores.

October 14th, 2009 Consumers show signs of life as prices stay lowWASHINGTON — Consumers may be slowly regaining their appetite to shop, as the prices they encounter in stores remain low. One benefit of the recession is that inflation is nowhere to be seen, as consumer prices have barely grown in months.

October 8th, 2009 Many retailers report September sales declinesNEW YORK — A late Labor Day and delayed school openings offered some relief to merchants in September, helping to boost sales above Wall Street expectations. But spending still remains tepid as consumers focused on necessities amid job worries and tight credit.

October 8th, 2009 Stores say sales may finally be turning aroundNEW YORK — Americans are finally spending a little more, but they're playing hard to get. A tally of sales at top stores managed a gain in September for the first time in more than a year.

October 8th, 2009 Retailers see sales begin to recover in SeptemberNEW YORK — The nation's stores saw their first sales gain in 14 months in September, a sign of life from shoppers that fuels some hope for the holiday shopping season. A late Labor Day and delayed school openings helped boost back-to-school sales in September.

October 5th, 2009 National retail group offers weak holiday forecastNEW YORK — After parents cut back on clothes and accessories for children this past fall, the retail industry suspects they won't be any more generous by the holidays. The National Retail Federation, usually bullish about holiday sales, predicts a 1 percent decline in total sales to $437.6 billion for November and December combined.

October 2nd, 2009 Job losses were widespread last monthA snapshot of major employment categories, and how they fared in the past two months: Construction: Cut 64,000 jobs in September, following losses of 60,000 in August. Manufacturing: Eliminated 51,000 jobs in September, after cutting 66,000 in August.

October 1st, 2009 Stocks open lower after jobs, income dataNEW YORK — Stocks retreated in early trading Thursday after two government reports suggested the economy is still poised for a slow recovery. The Labor Department said new claims for jobless benefits rose more than expected to 551,000, evidence that the labor market is struggling and that jobs remain scarce.

September 3rd, 2009 Retailers report sales declines for AugustNEW YORK — Retailers on Thursday posted sales declines for August as shoppers held back on back-to-school purchases and continued to focus on necessities, but overall results came in ahead of analyst predictions. A monthly compilation of 31 retailers' results by The International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs showed sales in established stores fell 2.1 percent in August compared with the same month in 2008.

July 28th, 2009 UK retailers say sales dropping in JulyLONDON — Most U.K. retailers say that sales are declining in July, though grocery and shoe stores are bucking the trend with rising volumes, the Confederation of British Industry said Tuesday.

July 8th, 2009 Retailers focus on standout items to spur spendingNEW YORK — Americans are increasingly shopping in their own closets for new looks, so merchants are diving in to help out. Clothing retailers are spotlighting a number of bold items this fall — from leather pants and jackets with structured shoulders to sequined tops and skirts — to persuade strapped consumers they can update their wardrobes without buying a new look head to toe.

June 9th, 2009 Analyst: Luxury sales to start rebound in 2011NEW YORK — Luxury merchants shouldn't expect affluent shoppers to go back to splurging anytime soon, says Claudia D'Arpizio, partner and luxury goods expert at consulting company Bain & Co., who anticipates that the global luxury business will not fully rebound until 2012. That means a wave of consolidation in the luxury industry over the next year or so as companies try to survive, she said.

June 4th, 2009 Stocks mixed after data on jobs, retail salesNEW YORK — Cautious traders are looking for more than just any sign of improvement in the economy. Stocks zigzagged in a narrow range Thursday after the number of unemployed workers continuing to receive benefits unexpectedly dropped for the first time in 20 weeks.

May 6th, 2009 Euro-zone retail sales slide by record 4.2 pctBRUSSELS — Retail trade in the 16 nations that use the euro slid by a record 4.2 percent in March from a year ago, the EU statistics agency said Wednesday, as recession-hit shoppers cut back over worries on rising unemployment. The European Union said some 8.5 million jobs will disappear this year and next year as the economies of both the euro area and the 27-nation European Union shrink by 4 percent.