Unlike its predecessors, the new portable gaming system from Sony does not run on traditional packaged software. Any game or movie the user wants has to be downloaded — and that leaves retailers out of the loop on the most profitable part of any gaming system.

Cash-for-clunkers may have pushed retail sales higher, but the road to recovery is likely be a bumpy one, say economists.

Wall Street wants consumers to do their part to heal the economy. Traders know it's going to take some time.

GameStop executives, who led the call for price reductions on the PlayStation 3 earlier this year, say they were a bit surprised with the timing of Sony’s actions earlier this week. But now that Sony has capitulated, they're expecting Microsoft and Nintendo to react.

The back-to-school shopping season has begun and although spending is expected to decrease in most categories, industry analysts anticipate seeing growth in PCs and consumer electronics.

Sales of new video game software are down 7 percent compared to 2008, according to the NPD Group. But a new study by Nielsen finds that used game sales are at an all time high.

Best Buy has launched a trial program allowing video gamers to trade in their old titles for store credit.  The big box retailer is the latest in a string of companies that is exploring ways to tap into the growing used game market, which currently is valued at between $2 billion to $3 billion annually.

The Dow fell for a fourth straight day Wednesday after the Fed said it expected to keep interest rates exceptionally low for an extended period.

Stocks bounded higher Wednesday, with the Dow up about 1 percent, as investors cheered the better-than-expected jump in durable-goods orders and shrugged off a weak new-home-sales report.

Futures jumped Wednesday after a better-than-expected rise in durable-goods orders.

The recession steered a new type of customer to Wal-Mart — deeper in the pockets and suddenly looking for bargains.

Stocks ended lower for a second straight session in light volume as the glow from housing starts faded and banks skidded.

Stocks skidded Tuesday as the glow from the rebound in housing starts faded and bank stocks skidded.

Stocks turned mixed Tuesday as weakness in techs and retail offset the early pop from a report that showed a rebound in housing starts.

Futures pointed higher Tuesday after a report showed a rebound in housing starts from record lows.