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Why the retail apocalypse isn't being taken seriously

Jan 2, 2018
The number of retail workers far exceeds the number of coal miners or recent manufacturing employees, points out Columbia University professor Mark Cohen.
Shoppers are packed into Tysons Corner Center, a mall in suburban Washington.
Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images

Despite high interest rates, people still sign up for department credit cards

Dec 11, 2017
Department store credit cards, which tend to have high interest rates, have fallen out of fashion. But for some with bad credit, they are the only option.
Credit cards are pictured, on February 5, 2013 in Rennes, western France.
DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images

Will ordering less inventory help department stores this holiday season?

Nov 9, 2017
The holiday season is approaching, and there are reports that department stores, including Kohl’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom are ordering less inventory. After a year of declining sales and foot traffic, these retailers don’t want piles of unsold stock eating into their profits. But are they risking empty shelves and disappointed shoppers? Click the audio player […]

Macy's to hire fewer holiday workers, but more of them will pack online orders

Sep 19, 2017
It’s a holiday tradition: every fall, retailers staff up their stores to prepare for the inevitable crush of shoppers. But this year, Macy’s said it’ll be hiring fewer holiday workers — about 80,000 people in total. And more of those workers will be operating out of warehouses, packing online orders, than last year. Could these […]

A luxury department store with issues

Mar 14, 2017
The private-equity outfit that owns 100-year old luxury retailer Neiman Marcus has hired advisers to shop the company for a sale. Neiman might come with a lot of baggage, including almost $5 billion in debt rated at junk status. In the age of internet retail, is there any appeal in owning a high-end department store […]

Sears recovery plan sparks hope and skepticism

Feb 10, 2017
Beleaguered retailer Sears is out with a plan to turn its fortunes around, and the company’s stock rose on the news. To most time-worn Sears-watchers, however, it looks a lot like more of the same and not enough to rescue the company.

Department store rivals more successful at attracting younger buyers

May 19, 2016
Department stores haven't been doing so well. Big box stores like Target have been handling this winter better.
Though Target's electronic sales have been struggling, its apparel and home sales are up.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

The relationship between department store earnings and the economy

May 11, 2016
What do department store earnings reports tell us about the broader economy?

"What's a department store, Dad?"

Aug 14, 2015
The street-side retailers lost their cultural dominance; now they're losing sales.

Retail chains feel pressure from low consumer spending

Aug 12, 2015
Companies like Macy's are developing strategies to compete with online retail.