Teen apparel leads the decline, raising concerns about back-to-school shopping and the upcoming holiday buying season. Off-price retailers and discounters provide some good news.
Many of the nation’s largest retailers missed sales [...]

Retailers on Thursday posted sales declines for August as shoppers held back on back-to-school purchases and continued to focus on necessities, raising further concern about the upcoming holiday season. more …

Saks Fifth Avenue is aiming for a clean break from last year’s disastrous holiday season, but upscale rivals could still make for a messy Christmas. The struggling luxury chain attracted industry criticism last October when — only weeks after… more …

Several analysts said Friday they were concerned about Everett-based Zumiez Inc.’s performance this upcoming holiday season, after the sports retailer posted a second-quarter loss and predicted a decline in same-store sales for the third quarter. more …

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 may get serious competition from Sony this holiday season: Sony announced it will introduce a redesigned PlayStation 3 — the “slim” model that’s been rumored for months — in September. Sony also is lowering the current console’s base price by $100, to $299. more …

Sears Holdings Corp. aims to get an edge over its competition this holiday season by getting shoppers to start saving for Christmas presents now through a new card that mimics an old-fashioned Christmas club account. more …