Shares of Talbot's Inc. rose on Wednesday, after an analyst said the company's holiday offerings show improvement and should drive better sales and margins.

Women's clothing retailer Talbots said Friday it finalized the terms of a $50 million credit facility with majority shareholder Aeon Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Aeon Co.

Retail chain Steve & Barry’s is expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as early as this week, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site on Tuesday.

Community college classes in the old mall movie theater. A DMV office across from the Starbucks. Maybe a local library between the Victoria's Secret and the Gap.

Stocks tumbled Wednesday as oil's resurgence lit the fuse of inflation fears, pushing the Dow to a three-month low.  Oil jumped about $5 a barrel, settling at $136.38. Financials were the hardest hit.

Stocks plunged after the Federal Reserve cut its 2008 outlook and oil finished above $133 a barrel.  The Dow shed more than 227 points, or 1.8 percent, bringing its two-day point decline to about 450.

Vacancy rates at U.S. regional malls rose and rents fell during the fourth quarter due to concerns about consumer spending and a potential slowdown in the national economy, real estate research firm Reis said.