Pikes Peak Shopping

J.C. Penney closes the book on hefty catalogs

Comments | Recommend

DALLAS — J.C. Penney's "Big Book" is dead — a victim of shoppers' growing reliance on the Internet. Plano, Texas,-based Penney confirmed that its fall/winter 2009 catalog is its last semiannual, telephone-book-size volume. The Internet... Full story

Costco nixes Coke products over pricing dispute

EMILY FREDRIX and SARAH SKIDMORE

Comments | Recommend

ATLANTA • Costco customers may have to look elsewhere for Coca-Cola products now that the retailer has stopped carrying them because the pair are fighting over prices. The public squabble between one of the nation's largest wholesale club... Full story

Health group finds high lead levels in some toys

JENNIFER C. KERR

Comments | Recommend

WASHINGTON • Children's toys carrying the Barbie and Disney logos have turned up with high levels of lead in them, according to a California-based advocacy group — a finding that may give consumers pause as they shop for the holiday... Full story

Retail sales rise 1.4 percent in October

MARTIN CRUTSINGER

Comments | Recommend

WASHINGTON • U.S. retail sales rose more than expected in October due largely to a big rebound in auto sales. But broader consumer spending remains under pressure, raising questions about the durability of the recovery. Last month's... Full story

Store shelves already empty? Blame the economy

Comments | Recommend

NEW YORK — Robotic toy hamsters, the latest Barbie dolls and stylish boots are disappearing from store shelves as holiday shoppers start to get serious. But don't confuse this with the days of Tickle Me Elmo. Instead of a throwback to... Full story

Wal-Mart, Kohl's: Shoppers still focused on necessities

Comments | Recommend

NEW YORK — Shoppers' focus on staples such as socks and underwear is driving murky holiday outlooks at Wal-Mart and Kohl's, even as both posted higher third-quarter earnings Thursday. Both signaled they plan aggressive discounting to hang on... Full story

Hit the Internet before hitting the malls on Black Friday

Comments | Recommend

NEW YORK — You may want to check Facebook and Twitter before heading to the mall the day after Thanksgiving. Hundreds of deals already are being advertised for what's known as Black Friday by retailers as diverse as OfficeMax and Old Navy.... Full story

Wal-Mart to keep stores open all night to ease Black Friday crowds

Comments | Recommend

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart said Wednesday it will keep its stores open 24 hours and take new crowd-control measures Thanksgiving weekend after a temporary employee was trampled to death in a Black Friday rush last year. The world's... Full story

Looking for favorite fashion brand? You might need a map

Comments | Recommend

NEW YORK — Some of fashion's best-known names are playing musical chairs. Faced with a consolidating department store industry and eroding sales, some labels are cutting ties with retailers that sold their clothing and betting their future... Full story

7-Eleven stores take a Big Gulp of wine

Comments | Recommend

What goes well with Slim Jims and Slurpees? 7-Eleven wine, naturally. The convenience store chain announced this week it is getting into the value wine business, releasing two low-priced proprietary wines in the United States and Japan.... Full story

'Pikes Peak Shopping' Archives