🌎 It’s World Press Freedom Day. Stand with Marketplace and our independent journalism. Donate now

For big retailers, a mixed bag of holiday results

Jan 10, 2019
We heard a lot of rosy retail forecasts heading into the holiday season. Consumer confidence was high, the economy was strong and sales were going to be great. How’d it pan out? A bit of a mixed bag, actually. Some big retailers, like Target and Costco, have posted strong holiday sales results. Others, like Macy’s […]
A Macy's sign is seen on a Macy's store at CityPlace after reports indicate that it is one of 68 stores that the company plans on closing on January 5, 2017 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Retail rebound is now: Sales predicted up 4.5 percent over last year

Aug 15, 2018
Major department stores report their earnings this week, starting with Macy’s on Wednesday, followed by Nordstrom and J.C. Penney on Thursday. After a retail slump and slide over many quarters, Americans are coming back to shopping, and the numbers show stores are enjoying the trend. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 
Department store sales have been declining.
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images

July sales are pressuring the shipping industry like it’s the holiday season

Jul 16, 2018
Today is Prime Day, Amazon’s annual day of discounts that the retail giant hopes will rack up sales and lure new subscribers to Prime. Walmart, Target, Macy’s and other retailers are also getting in on what’s being dubbed Summer Black Friday. With all those packages on the move, the shipping industry is ramping up to […]

Macy’s parades an unexpectedly strong earnings report

May 16, 2018
The department store chain beat Wall Street’s estimates on a whole lot of fronts.

Macy’s: Rewards for all, no card needed

May 16, 2018
Struggling to keep the customers coming to stores, Macy’s is expanding special deals by offering rewards and discounts to all shoppers, not just its credit card holders. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

In holiday shopping season, brick and mortar stores have Santa advantage

Nov 23, 2017
Macy’s flagship store in New York’s Herald Square now requires an online reservation for visits with Santa. “Santa’s a popular guy,” goes the explanation. Some 250,000 visitors come to Macy’s “Santaland” each year, according to the company. Santa visits are a big draw and can translate into big sales for retailers. Click the audio player above to hear […]

For public good, not for profit.

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 […]