Resources

Swarovski is the centerpiece of Las Vegas’ newest retail destination, Grand Bazaar Shops. To keep with the Grand Bazaar theme, Swarovski has opened their first-ever “bartering window”, allowing shoppers to negotiate the price they pay for select items. Most items to be found in the bartering window are limited edition items such as crystallized Beats... Read more »

After sinking 0.7% in January, the biggest drop in 6 years, the consumer price index rose 0.2% in February. This is attributed to a rise in gas costs and broad increases in other categories. Outside of food and energy, the cost of rents, clothes, new and used cars and airfares all also increased 0.2% last... Read more »

The National Retail Federation released its 2015 Easter Spending Survey, gauging consumer behavior and shopping trends leading to the holiday. The report finds that the average person celebrating Easter will spend $140.62, over 2014’s $137.46 average spend. Total spending is expected to reach $16.4 billion. “Easter will be the perfect segue into spring for both... Read more »

The US dollar has increased 12% so far in 2015 against the euro and is up 27% from a year ago. This has prompted Wall Street analysts to make deep cuts to earnings forecasts of US multinational companies, and increasing the appeal of smaller, domestically focused companies. As a result, investors are keeping a continued... Read more »

PwC administered a global survey to understand and compare consumer shopping behaviors and the use of different retail channels across 19 territories. Key findings:   US Consumers Shopping Online 39% of US consumers surveyed make online purchases monthly Top 3 reasons why US shoppers buy online instead of in store: lower prices/better deals than in... Read more »

American Express announced a new coalition loyalty program, called Plenti. Macy’s, Rite Aid, ExxonMobil and other major companies are joining American Express for this new  offering not previously available to U.S. shoppers. Shoppers can earn points when they make purchases with participating retailers, and then those points are good for savings at all of those... Read more »

Industrial production, measuring the output of manufacturers, utilities and mines, rose .1% in February from January. Cold weather caused an increase in utility output, but factory and mining production declined, lowering capacity utilization two-tenths to 78.9%, instead of economist expectation of gains to 79.5%. Lower capacity utilization could prompt businesses to wait on investments. Manufacturing,... Read more »

Home Depot and Macy’s both posted solid earnings for the fourth quarter 2014. However, both retailers report that the situation with the West Coast ports will begin to really affect them now. This is after a report that a tentative deal was reached in the dispute that has affected retailers, manufacturers, farmers and merchants. “The... Read more »

Ulta Beauty announced fourth quarter growth in same store sales at a very high 11.1% and e-commerce growth of 55.2%. The 11.1% same store increase was after a prior year gain of 9.2%. The company opened 100 new stores last year and are planning another 100 new stores for 2015. It is forecasting same store... Read more »