Shares of department stores dropped Thursday after retailers reported largely worse-then-expected same-store sales for June.

Luxury retailer Saks Inc. said Thursday its same-store sales rose 1.9 percent in June, missing Wall Street expectations.

High-end consumers are still shopping, but they are doing so with caution according to some executives from the high-end retail and recreational busines sector.

U.S. data is pointing to an economy that is still chugging along, albeit slowly, yet consumers are behaving as if the country is in the throes of the deepest downturn in decades.

Stocks finished near session lows as oil prices soared and a measure of wholesale inflation surged, sparking worries that the Federal Reserve will start focusing on rising prices rather than slowing growth.

Stocks tumbled Tuesday as oil prices blew past $129 a barrel and a measure of wholesale inflation surged, sparking worries that the Federal Reserve will start focusing on rising prices rather than slowing growth.

Many US retailers posted better-than-expected sales in April. However, with most consumers sticking to bargains or basics, don't expect an extended rebound in retail.

Many US retailers posted better-than-expected sales in April. However, with most consumers sticking to bargains or basics, don't expect an extended rebound in retail.

Discounts and gift cards helped many U.S. retailers rebound in January from a dreary December, according to data released Wednesday, but analysts suspected post-holiday sales were stunted by the weaker economy.

Strong evidence is emerging that consumer spending, a bulwark against recession over the last year even as energy prices surged and the housing market sputtered, has begun to slow sharply at every level of the American economy, from the working class to the wealthy.

U.S. chain stores, reeling from the slowest holiday shopping season in five years, got some more bad news Sunday: 2008 will not be any better and could see changes that may shift the retail playing field forever.

Big box retailers like Wal-Mart and Costco saw sales that exceeded expectations, but most niche retailers  saw their sales drop or saw sales grow less than expected.