Skip the shopping frenzy with these 4 Black Friday alternatives
From hiking local trails to studying black holes, some Americans are finding creative ways to mark the country's busiest shopping day without spending a dime.
retail sales
The unexpected American shopping spree seems to have cooled
Retail sales dipped 0.4% in February after a surprise start-of-the-year surge that appeared at odds with the Federal Reserve's goal of cooling down the economy.
Big stores see how we spend. Here are 4 things they say about the economy
Retailers have dropped a flurry of financial reports. They paint a messy and conflicting picture about our consumer economy.
Despite high inflation, Americans are spending like crazy – and it's kind of puzzling
Americans began the new year with a spending spree, but businesses are not sure how long it can last. There's a lot riding on the answer, since consumer spending is the backbone of the U.S. economy.
In a year marked by inflation, 'buy now, pay later' is the hottest holiday trend
People are paying for blenders, shirts and even groceries in installments. New research suggests this encourages people to overspend.
Retail spending dips as holiday sales bite into inflation
Retail sales declined 0.6% in November compared to October, the biggest decline in almost a year. For once, declining prices seem to be part of the story.
How understaffed are stores? Smaller retailers feel the holiday-shopping strain
Large retailers have spent billions of dollars to woo workers. Smaller stores that can't do that expect staff shortages will lead to lost sales. They're asking shoppers to be patient.
Yes, we are shopping way more than ever
Even the Grinch can't stop shoppers in what's predicted to be a record holiday season.
More Retail Workers Are Quitting Than Ever, But More Stores Are Opening Than Expected
The U.S. retail industry is setting records: workers quitting and workers hired. Wages are finally growing. And despite the pandemic devastation, brand-new stores are still opening.
Americans Dialed Back On Retail Therapy — And Spent More Eating Their Feelings
Retail sales were flat in April from a month earlier as Americans spent less on things such as clothes or sporting goods but increased their spending at bars and restaurants.