This Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving, is ubiquitously referred to as “Black Friday” by retailers, consumers and the media. We wondered: What does the term mean? And where’d it come from? Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

One couldn't afford rent in a hip neighborhood; the other survives on pricey specialties.

"People don't stop buying a few small luxuries" in a recession, one couple found.

Why is your in-box already overflowing with sale alerts and discount codes?

About 70 percent of these products come from China, and with an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, this could mean higher prices will be passed down to consumers before long.

Have you been to a mall lately?

Despite signs of a cooling housing market, the home improvement giant turned in a $2.9 billion profit for the third quarter.

What cities learn from competing can be a win.

Terminals in major cities are undergoing renovations and relying on the allure of local shops to keep travelers spending.

They see a chance to grab the defunct store's share of sales.