USD rallies on positive retail and consumer data

The US retail sales excluding autos and gasoline climbed at its fastest rate at +0.8% since January, even though the overall retail sales came out -0.4% in Sep vs +0.3% rise. USD's initial reaction was to dip lower, but as soon as traders discovered the core data, USD then...

Final Sept retail sales rise 0.3 pct

"U.S. retail sales rose in September as lower gasoline prices and a soaring stock market bolstered consumer spending, according to final data by SpendingPulse on Monday. Americans splurged on clothes and back-to-school items last month, offering retailers' hopes of a solid...

NASCAR retail venture runs out of gas (BizJournals)

" Anne and Steve Deli, Harley dealer owners, shut five concept stores. OBJ File Photo Steve and Anne Deli View Larger ORLANDO -- A once-promising venture launched by a prominent local business couple to roll out official NASCAR retail stores nationwide has collapsed. Anne...

Banking...When People become Data and Fee Generators, not Individual Customers

Many retail businesses have forgotten that relationships are part of the customer experience and that the human factor is important.If I am just a data stream and a fee generator it cease to matter what bank I do business with as long as it is the one charging the smallest...

Banks slash fees, hope for more profits

"If you slash fees, they will come. Bank deposits, that is. And that's a philosophy increasingly gripping the banking industry as more and more banks look to attract depositors by offering free checking accounts and no-fee ATM service to consumers. Given the increasingly...

NASCAR 07 video game roars into retail stores (BizJournals)

" Orlando Business Journal - 10:39 AM EDT Wednesday The NASCAR 07 video game -- which allows drivers to experience the rush of hitting speeds of more than 180 mph -- has been shipped to retail stores nationwide, EA Sports announced Wednesday. An improved feature of NASCAR 07...

DEA Busts Coast-To-Coast Heroin Ring

They were seeking up to 150 people, about half of them illegal aliens. They smuggled heroin from Mexico. They even offered phone-up home deliveries like a pizza shop.

Tenn. gov. pushes for 'Wal-Mart degrees' (AP)

" NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen wants the state to do a better job at preparing students for careers at Wal-Mart. But he's not talking about stocking shelves or checking out customers at the retail giant. Instead, Bredesen wants to tailor community college...

Back-to-school spending to soar this year: study (Reuters)

" NEW YORK (Reuters) - The average family is likely to shell out even more for new clothing, electronics and dormitory supplies for the coming school season, even as higher energy prices have crimped spending in other areas, according to a retail survey. Soaring gas costs...

Petco agrees to $1.68 billion takeover (AP)

" 52 minutes ago NEW YORK - Petco Animal Supplies Inc., the nation's second biggest pet supplies retail chain, said Friday that it has agreed to be acquired for about $1.68 billion by a private investment group. Its shares climbed 43 percent. The deal for the San Diego-based...

Why retail biz makes sense for Reliance

"Starting on its own and becoming the largest retail chain in India will not be an easy task for Wal-Mart because Reliance and some other players are expected to be up and running with their operations before them."

Nokia to open first US cell phone store in Chicago

"Reuters - Nokia (NOK1V.HE), the No. 2 U.S. mobile phone maker, said on Monday that it plans to open its first U.S. retail store in Chicago on Saturday in a bid to improve brand awareness among consumers here."

I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear The Mark Of The Beast

How major corporations and government plan to track your every move with RFID.