WSJ.com: Holiday Sales Blog

After Dismal Holidays, Gottschalks Files for Chapter 11

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:48:33 GMT

Amid dismal retail sales numbers out from the Commerce Department Wednesday, more retailers are starting to fall. Gottschalks Inc., a 58-store West Coast department-store chain based in Fresno, Calif., announced Wednesday that it has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization relief under Chapter 11. Gottschalks was one of the chains [...]

Best Buy Ends Holiday Reporting Week

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:24:11 GMT

Best Buy reported its December sales Friday, closing out a busy week for retailers’ holiday reports. Here’s how Best Buy compares with other retailers. Sort the chart below by company name, category, change in total or same-store sales, and total sales. Also, see November’s chart. Company name Category Same-store sales change Overall sales change Overall [...]

List of Macy’s Store Closings

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:26:04 GMT

As the Journal previewed Wednesday night, Macy’s this morning announced the closing of 11 stores, a move that came after a rough holiday season. Macy’s also said Thursday that same-store sales for December fell 4%, amid what it called “the most challenging economic environment in memory.” Here’s the list of [...]

December Sales: How Retailers Fared in Key Holiday Month

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:41:02 GMT

Many large retailers reported their December sales numbers this week, with most of them coming out the morning of Thursday, Jan. 8. A handful of companies including Best Buy and Tiffany, reported more recently and were added to the chart after its initial publication. (Last updated Jan. 14, 2009) Sort the [...]

Goody’s Family Clothing to Liquidate

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:00:32 GMT

Goody’s Family Clothing is liquidating operations, becoming the first high-profile retailer to go under in a new year that is expected to see many more going-out-of-business announcements. The moderately-priced chain was unable to restructure terms with its creditors and is in the process of seeking bids to liquidate substantially [...]

End-of-Season Sales Boost Retail in Latest Week

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:16:20 GMT

U.S. chain store sales benefited last week from shoppers taking advantage of end-of-season sales, the International Council of Shopping Centers said Tuesday. The ICSC/Goldman Sachs Retail Chain Store Sales Index rose 1.4% in the week ended Jan. 3 from the prior week. Despite the weekly increase though, sales on the year [...]

ComScore: Online Holiday Shopping Falls 3% in First Decline

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:56:50 GMT

Online holiday spending fell 3% from a year earlier, below its earlier prediction of flat sales, according to comScore Inc. That was the first decline since the research firm began tracking e-commerce in 2001. Retailers in general are looking at their poorest December on record, according to the roughly 1% decline [...]

ICSC: Worst Christmas Since 1970

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:40:52 GMT

U.S. chain store sales were hit last week by sluggish demand from consumers combined with severe weather conditions in several parts of the country, the International Council of Shopping Centers said Tuesday. The ICSC/Goldman Sachs Retail Chain Store Sales Index fell 1.5% in the week ended Dec. 27 from the [...]

Dismal Holiday Season Precursor of Greater Pain

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:09:05 GMT

The worst may be yet to come for retailers following one of the bleakest holiday selling periods in memory. The environment is shifting back to consumers buying for themselves, and they are not very driven given climbing unemployment levels and a general lack of confidence that economic conditions can soon [...]

After-Christmas Sales Hope to Lure Shoppers

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:40:59 GMT

Retailers slashed prices on alredy discounted items today, hoping to draw in year-end sales after a dismal holiday-shopping season. Among some of the after-Christmas sales: J.C. Penney welcomed bargain hunters starting at 5:30 a.m., offering deals such as 70% off jewelry. Sears is offering up to 75% off on electronics and 50% [...]