After showing signs of improvement in early fall, sales of clothing and luxury goods weakened a bit the first half of November, compared with a year ago, when stores pulled shoppers in with massive discounts, figures released Tuesday show.

When the holiday shopping season kicks off the day after Thanksgiving, retailers can expect to see millions of less frightened, but even more bargain-hungry customers.

This holiday season is a great time to buy a PC. There's a nice new version of Windows out, and computer manufacturers are adding interesting new technologies. Here's a guide to what's fresh in PCs, ranging from "netbooks" to super-sized "all-in-one" desktop computers.

By Jessica Wohl

Black Friday deals may not be as good as they once were as they day evolves into more of a marketing event, but that doesn't stop some shoppers from venturing out.

It's easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding Black Friday, but to truly get the best deals, keep these retail secrets in mind.

With nightmares of Christmas 2008 markdowns dancing in their heads, retailers have slashed inventories to some of the leanest levels in recent memory.

Fitch Ratings expects sales at stores open at least a year to rise slightly this holiday season after last year's sharp falloff, the credit rating agency said Monday.

Best Buy Co. on Wednesday said Robert A. Willett, CEO of its international unit, will retire effective Dec. 31.

Best Buy Co. wants to get your pulse racing over more than the hottest new laptops and TVs. Starting Wednesday the electronics chain will sell health and fitness equipment in 40 stores across the U.S.

Best Buy plans to start an online service that allows consumers to buy, rent and download movies and television shows, the electronics retailer said Tuesday.

Fourteen companies that have tried to reduce their carbon emissions.

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.