Amazon.com shares tumbled as much as 4 percent Monday on concerns that offers of free shipping by Wal-Mart Stores Inc and other retailers could challenge the online company’s results. Get the full story »
Inside these posts: Holiday shopping
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U.S. retail sales jump 1.2% in October
Sales at U.S. retailers rose more than expected in October to post their largest gain in seven months, boosted by purchases of motor vehicles and building materials, according to a government report on Monday that was further evidence the economy was regaining strength.
The Commerce Department said total retail sales increased 1.2 percent, the biggest rise since March, after advancing by an upwardly revised 0.7 percent in September. Get the full story »
FedEx sees holiday shipping up 11%, Dec. 13 peak
FedEx Corp. expects its busiest day in company history to be Dec. 13 as consumer activity peaks in a holiday shipping season the shipper projects to be about 11 percent bigger than last year.
Shares rose on the news but were still down 14 cents at $88.34 in recent trading on broader market declines. Get the full story »
Consumer Reports says ‘happy’ back in holidays
It looks like Scrooge will have time on his hands this Christmas.
At least, that is the word from Consumer Reports, which reports that the holidays are getting happier.
Indeed, 40 percent of adults say they expect the upcoming holiday season to be “happier” than last year’s, according to the Consumer Reports National Research Center, a unit of Consumers Union, a watchdog organization. Get the full story »
Illinois No. 2 in Thanksgiving-cooking claims
(State Farm photo)
Setting your house on fire is sure way for your Thanksgiving Day to end up a turkey. But it happens every year.
Bloomington-based State Farm alone says that during the past five years it has received more than 160 damage claims related to Thanksgiving cooking accidents. Of the 10 states with the most claims, Texas ranks first, with 33 claims in that time period, while Illinois and Ohio round out the top 3, with 22 and 18, respectively. Get the full story »
Wal-Mart tweaks holiday toy strategy
Wal-Mart shoppers wait in line on Dec. 21, 2009, at one of the retailer's stores in Ocoee, Fla., for Zhu Zhu toys. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)
After last Christmas, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. turned to its customers to find out how it could improve toy shopping this holiday season.
Moms told the nation’s largest retailer not to push Christmas toys until after Halloween passed and to give them more, not just $10 specials.
That was a price Wal-Mart promoted early and big in 2008 and 2009 in toys, books and DVDs, starting price wars in early October the last two years. Get the full story »
Pent-up demand could drive record Black Friday sales
Get out your coffee and your coupons. Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, is about to get bigger.
For the past several years, Black Friday has ranked as the largest shopping day of the year, in both sales and traffic. But analysts say a host of factors is converging to make it likely that Black Friday 2010 will set a record. Get the full story »
Retail federation sees holiday sales rising 2.3%
The National Retail Federation expects holiday retail sales to increase 2.3 percent this year, to $447.1 billion, as shoppers start to regain their financial footing.
The trade group’s forecast remains slightly below the 10-year average sales gain of 2.5 percent for the November-December holiday period. But, it marks an improvement from the last two years. Get the full story »
Nestle: No shortage of pumpkins this year
Last year, a series of heavy rains dented the pumpkin harvest, and just about any pumpkin-pie plans for after Thanksgiving. Nestle, which sells the vast majority of the canned pumpkin category, said that won’t be a problem this year. Get the full story »
Wal-Mart pledges to be price leader for toys
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is optimistic about demand for toys this holiday season and will stay “absolutely committed” to win on price in the segment, the world’s largest retailer told Reuters.
“In toys this year, we will be just as competitive on price as we have always been,” Laura Phillips, Wal-Mart’s vice president of toys said in an interview. Get the full story »
Toys R Us releases its list to Santa
Memo to Santa, from Jerry Storch and his team of executive elves at Toys R’ Us headquarters in Wayne, N.J.: Here are the toys we’re betting you will see on lots of kids’ lists this year.
Toys R’ Us on Tuesday released its annual list of hot holiday toys. The retailer selected three dozen toys it expects will be popular this year, and named 15 of those as the hottest of the bunch. Get the full story »
Deloitte predicts small rise in holiday sales
The holiday shopping season forecasts are starting to roll in, and the slow pace of the recovery is dampening expectations.
Deloitte said Monday that it predicts holiday sales for November through January will increase 2 percent to $852 billion, as households remain focused on reducing debt and increasing savings. Get the full story »
Wal-Mart chief: Socks, undies big for holidays
The head of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s U.S. discount stores has some bad news for grown-ups this holiday season — expect to get practical, everyday gifts.
“For all you adults out there, I think you should plan on socks and underwear for Christmas,” Bill Simon, president and CEO of Wal-Mart’s U.S. division, said at a presentation at an analyst conference. Get the full story »
