Filed under: Economy , Home Depot , JC Penney , Wal-Mart Stores , Costco Wholesale Corp. , Lowe’s Companies Inc The retail industry got an early Christmas present: better-than-expected November sales. The Commerce Department’s monthly retail sales tally showed unexpected pockets of strength in retail, including car dealers and online sales. Store and restaurant sales were $352.1 billion, up 1.3% from October and 1.9% from November 2008. Retailers alone sold $314.1 billion of goods, 1.4% more than in October and 2.2% more than a year earlier. Continue reading November retail sales beat expectations November retail sales beat expectations originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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November retail sales beat expectations

Filed under: Economy , Media If you can afford to spend $87,403 to buy the gifts of ” The Twelve Days of Christmas ” — that’s the Associated Press’s calculation for the full tab, from the 12 drummers drumming down to the partridge in a pear tree — then more power to you. But it might be a lot cheaper to make yourself happy. A variety of spiritual and religious groups will help consumers throw off the shackles of their unhappiness for far less cash than hiring 10 lords a-leaping. My own unscientific survey calculates the cost of being your own best friend as far cheaper than being a true love. Adopting a pet from a shelter for $100 is a great stress-reliever, as is a massage ($80) or a Prozac prescription ($15 with insurance). Continue reading Ten lords a-leaping? $4,414. Making yourself happy for less? Priceless Ten lords a-leaping? $4,414. Making yourself happy for less? Priceless originally appeared on DailyFinance on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Ten lords a-leaping? $4,414. Making yourself happy for less? Priceless

Filed under: Economy , Sears Holdings Corp. , Wal-Mart Stores There is some debate about whether holiday sales will be up down or flat this year, but one thing is for sure: the annual tug of war between stores trying to entice shoppers to buy early and customers holding out for markdowns is underway. Stores have warned they’ve cut back inventory and they will be laying out sales early in the season, starting with the traditional Black Friday sales on the day after Thanksgiving. But polls say shoppers will be even tighter with the buck this holiday than last year. “This game of chicken is going to challenge retailers for eternity,” said Ellen Davis, vice president of the National Retail Federation, which forecasts sales will be down one percent this holiday below last year. Continue reading Stores start holiday sales early, but shoppers aren’t buying Stores start holiday sales early, but shoppers aren’t buying originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Stores start holiday sales early, but shoppers aren’t buying

Filed under: American Express In what could become a trend-setting move, American Express (AXP) announced Wednesday that it will eliminate all monthly fees on its gift cards. Prior to this decision, gift card holders were charged $2 per month after the first 12 months of use. American Express gift card users will still have to pay purchase charges of between $2.95 and $6.95, as well as transaction fees each time their cards are swiped. Other gift card issuers may follow American Express’s lead, but even if they don’t do so voluntarily, by of August 2010, they won’t have a choice. The Credit Card Act of 2009 limits banks and retailers from charging inactivity or service fees unless a card has been dormant for at least 12 months. The law also mandates that cards can’t expire until five years after their purchase date. Congress is thinking of moving the full implementation of the law to December 1. So American Express is just moving to make the changes in time for the holiday shopping season. I expect others will quickly follow suit. Continue reading As American Express cuts gift card fees, will other firms follow? As American Express cuts gift card fees, will other firms follow? originally appeared on DailyFinance on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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As American Express cuts gift card fees, will other firms follow?