More shoppers hit the stores over the Thanksgiving weekend than last year and they spent more, according to the early numbers, but with discounts already up to 70-percent off, margins are getting crunched like a candy cane being eaten by an impatient child.   Read More

The price of gallon of gasoline may be going down but, whew! Have you seen the price of true love? If swans a swimming and lords a leaping are on your shopping list this year, brace yourself: You're in for the most expensive Christmas ever!   Read More

Amazon's holiday strategy is simple: Low prices. And, while it may not beat itself this year — the online retailer logged 42 percent sales growth in the fourth quarter of 2007 — the 12 to 15 percent sales growth expected this year will likely crush the competition. Ready. Set. Click!   Read More

Shoppers are gearing up to hit the malls for big discounts this Black Friday and mall operators, prepared for a brutal season, are ready for them with all kinds of amenities — everything from fresh coffee to valet parking, massages and nap time!   Read More

Not only are shoppers hitting the mall less frequently, they’re also hitting the computer less frequently this holiday season and that has e-tailers pulling out all the stops — before the turkey even hits the oven.   Read More

Gift cards used to offer shoppers the perfect holiday punt: You could avoid the mall and still be a hero for giving a great gift. But the crazy discounts that have resulted from the downturn in spending have changed the playing field and gift-card sales are expected to fall for the first time in five years.   Read More

From rings on QVC to toys on Amazon, retailers are increasingly using video to sell their products on the Web. But today's Web videos are going far beyond product demos: Can we interest you in a virtual salesperson or a zombie video?!   Read More

The desire to splurge on children at the holidays tends to make toys somewhat recession-proof. Still, with Mom and Dad watching their budgets more closely, toymakers are rolling out items at a wider range of price points to snag sales.    Read More

When times get tough, women cut back on spending on themselves first. So when it comes to the holiday party — if there is one — this year, more women are rummaging through their closet, borrowing or buying secondhand instead of buying a new party dress.   Read More

With a dearth of dazzle in the holiday toy lineup this year, it looks like Elmo may just groove his way to the top again this year. But he might have to battle a robot or triceratops to win that coveted spot under the tree. Let the games begin!   Read More