Mixed May Results From Retailers
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U.S. retailers release May same-store sales figures that show an improvement from the previous month, but with some weakness.
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Many U.S. retailers are expected to  report disappointing December sales later this week, hurt by  everything from the challenging economy to unfavorable weather  to the calendar, which shifted more holiday sales to November.
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Gift cards were hot; department stores were not. The pricier the goods, the better they sold. American Eagle Outfitters was the store to shop; Aeropostale was so 2003. And for stores with all the wrong stuff, not even huge discounts saved Christmas.
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The nation's retailers delivered more evidence of a stumbling economy Thursday, as merchants including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported weak January results, extending a malaise that has deepened since the holiday shopping season.
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A string of government reports on  Thursday offered a mixed picture of the U.S. economy while  unexpectedly poor August sales at many major U.S. retailers  fanned fears about consumer spending.
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Lately, the company's retail operation has been lagging behind sales of its locations.
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Consumers undeterred by escalating credit problems and a weakening housing market went on a back-to-school buying spree last month, helping many retailers rebound from July's disappointing sales. But analysts are still worried that economic concerns might curtail shopping in the critical months ahead.
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Inventories of unsold goods where up in May, while separate data showed consumers cut back on spending amid higher gasoline prices and continued troubles in the housing market.
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Retail chains reported sales gains in May as warmer weather helped them rebound from a dismal April, but the results were weaker than a year ago, signaling to some that rising gas prices and a slowing housing market are taking their toll.
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US stores post mixed results for the holiday season, with luxury retailers faring well and others forced to slash prices.
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Americans shopped hesitantly in May, giving retailers some relief from a dismal showing in April but still raising questions about how strong consumer spending will be in the months ahead.
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Seemingly contradictory results emerge as the holiday shopping season begins.
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Retail chains on Thursday reported moderate May sales increases, as warmer weather fueled demand for seasonal items, like gardening and other outdoor goods, helping retailers rebound from their dismal April.
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May Department Stores (MAY:NYSE - news - research) reported dismal third-quarter results Tuesday, weighed down by its acquisition of Marshall Field&#39;s and negative sales trends.
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The back-to-school shopping season was not a disaster, but the respectable, if lackluster performance of retailers may have been driven by discounts that obscure troubles ahead.
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With a weak back-to-school season behind them, the nation's retailers are focused on the holidays and what steps they need to take to get consumers excited about shopping again. That could mean some quick merchandise changes and more aggressive discounting than they originally planned.
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Consumers apparently shook off their worries about higher gas prices during May, shopping with enthusiasm at stores and malls and giving many retailers better-than-expected results. A big exception was Wal-Mart Stores Inc., whose low-income consumers are feeling the biggest financial squeeze from &#36;3-a-gallon gas.