'I wouldn't expect the climate to improve anytime soon.'

'I wouldn't expect the climate to improve anytime soon.'

To the surprise of few, wholesale clubs and discounters had the strongest sales in February, as the economy continues to smack down consumers. Costco's same-stores sales rose 7% year over year, and Wal-Mart's chains advanced a solid (for this environment) 2.6%. But February's results still left us with...

'I wish I had a crystal ball, but I wouldn't expect the climate to improve anytime soon.'

NEW YORK CITY-Wholesale clubs and discounters perform well, while department stores and apparel chains are hit hard.

When retailers around the country today report their same-stores sales results for February, don't expect Macy's Inc. to join them. A Wall Street Journal article reports that the department-store giant will join the Dollar General, Home Depot and Sears Holdings, in not revealing the monthly figures. The...

NEW YORK CITY-The company is opening its first, in Orlando, in April and has three to four more in the works this year.

A recent New York Times article looks at an interesting development. Certain Wal-Mart employees in merchandising are blogging about some of the products the retail giant is selling - and not always favorably. Called Check Out, the blog features comments by employees that specialize in gadgets, lawn and...