Retail
Three Key Numbers From the May Jobs Report
Retail, construction, and health care post particularly strong employment gains.
Why Congress Is Close to Gutting a Key Provision of the ADA
Retail lobbyists are pushing through a law that will limit equal access for disabled Americans in commercial spaces.
More Evidence That Black Shoppers Are Subject to Racism
In a survey, 80 percent of African Americans reported experiencing racial stigma and stereotypes in stores.
Popular Trade Show, Outdoor Retailer, to Set Up Shop in Denver
The biannual event earned its former home a whopping $45 million.
This Chart Shows How Much the Economy Has Changed in Recent Years
The auto industry is no longer king.
The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch, as Told Through Its Patents
The patents track the store's shift from selling gear to selling an image and lifestyle, a strategy that's common to many modern apparel brands.
American Shopping Malls Are Still Disappearing
Shopping malls are shuttering their doors at a rapid rate. Is there any hope on the horizon?
This Mall Is Your Mall, This Mall Is My Mall
The psychological difference between shopping with a friend and shopping with a family member.
Rude Salespeople Make You Buy Fancy Things
Being snubbed by a luxury store only increases your desire for its goods, according to a new study.
Sleep, Snuggle: In China, People Do Just About Everything in Ikea
What seems like appropriate behavior is a matter of cultural agreement.
Chocolate: The Scent That Could Save Struggling Bookstores
Belgian researchers report the enticing aroma of chocolate inspired bookstore shoppers to stick around longer, and boosted sales of certain genres.
How Scents Can Change Shopping Behavior
New research shows that simple scents can get customers in the buying spirit
States Strive to Capture Online Sales Taxes
American shoppers owe sales taxes on online purchases whether Amazon and its friends assess them or not. States are trying various gambits to recoup those lost dollars.
Brand Loyalty Is Established Early and Grows With Age
Researchers show why it's good that the elderly habitually stick to their favorite brands and how less ambitious shopping can make you a happier senior.
What Would Jesus Buy?
As retailers' "Black Friday" approaches, research shows that commerce and Christmas have a long history of coexistence, and the psychological effect may be generally positive.
Store's Lighting Influences Perceptions of Quality
Researchers report that different lighting schemes at stores influences consumer perceptions of the outlet's quality and pricing.
Review: To Serve God and Wal-Mart
A new book on the discount chain’s down-home early days doesn’t tell us much about its status as the world’s largest — and most controversial — retailer.
High Noon in Aisle 9
Labor historian Nelson Lichtenstein has been following Wal-Mart for half a decade now, and he believes changes in China, and not in the domestic landscape, may force its day of reckoning.
Researchers not Buying the Wal-Mart Effect
The knock that Wal-Mart destroys communities is much overstated, say a pair of economics professors. Just look at the data.