Tech, communications stocks push US indexes to more records

Wall Street capped a milestone-setting week Friday with a few more as modest gains nudged the major stock indexes to all-time highs. The benchmark S&P 500 index also notched its second-straight weekly gain. Technology stocks powered much of the market's broad gains, along with communication services companies...

Global stocks inspired by US rally, hopes for Chinese growth

Global stocks rose Friday, seemingly buoyed by high spirits on Wall Street, as new data suggested China's economic slowdown may have stabilized and Washington and Beijing signed a trade deal. European indexes were broadly higher, while markets in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong closed with gains, after the U.S.'s...

Nation's largest retail trade group: holiday sales rose 4.1%

NEW YORK (AP) — The nation's largest retail trade group says holiday sales increased 4.1%, the top end of its forecast. The National Retail Federation had expected growth in a range of 3.8% to 4.2% for the November and December period. The growth is nearly double the 2.1% growth seen during the holiday...

Confident consumers lift US retail sales in December

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. retail sales rose at a solid pace last month, evidence that Americans were willing to spend during the winter holidays after a sluggish November. The Commerce Department said Thursday that retail sales increased 0.3% in December from the previous month. Excluding sales at car dealers...

US shoppers lift retail sales a solid 0.3% last month after sluggish start to holidays

Target, like other retailers, did not have a Merry Christmas

Target reported a rare shortfall in holiday sales, raising concerns about the challenges ahead for the traditional retail industry even as the economy remains strong. Target's disappointing growth of 1.4% percent for November and December, dragged down by toys and electronics, fell well below the previous year....

US wholesale prices up slight 0.1% in December

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. wholesale prices rose a slight 0.1% in December as a jump in the cost of energy was offset by falling food prices. The Labor Department said Wednesday the December increase in its producer price index, which measures inflation pressures before they reach the consumer, followed no...

Kohl's, Penney report holiday sales declines

NEW YORK (AP) — Mall-based retailers J.C. Penney, Kohl's and Victoria's Secret parent reported sales declines for the holiday season, underscoring continued challenges ahead from online rivals and other low-price competitors. The reports, issued Thursday, come one day after Macy's reported a small decline...

Macy's closing stores despite upbeat holiday sales numbers

NEW YORK (AP) — Macy's is closing 29 stores in coming weeks despite the company reporting some improvement in comparable-stores sales during the crucial holiday shopping season. In an email to The Associated Press, the Cincinnati-based retailer said the store closures include 28 Macy’s locations...

Online sales make up a larger portion of overall sales again

NEW YORK (AP) — More people did their shopping online this year during one of the shortest holiday shopping seasons in years, helping to push total sales higher. Retail sales in the U.S. rose 3.4% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 compared with last year, according to early data from Mastercard SpendingPulse....