Shop 'till you drop it's not, but U.S. women are finally starting to buy clothes again.

After a brutal year in which the nation’s luxury retailers were forced to offer their wares at stunning discounts, they are trying to get their magic back. And they may have found a way: deliberately running low on merchandise. The New York Times reports.

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.

With the economy beginning to improve, high-end retailers are in a good position for recovery, a Goldman Sachs analyst said Monday.

Improved retail sales gave Wall Street a boost Monday but provided little hope for a robust holiday shopping season that might invigorate the economic recovery.

Retail sales likely rose in October with part of the strength coming from a rebound in auto sales. Even with a gain, economists worry that consumer spending, the critical ingredient for overall economic growth, could falter in the months ahead.

Shares of Nordstrom Inc. dropped after the upscale department store said it had increased its provision for credit losses and issued a guidance that assumes continued "stagnant" consumer spending, at least one analyst said, perhaps disappointing investors hoping for a strong recovery in sales.

Among the earnings stories for Thursday, Nov. 12, from AP Financial News:

Department store operator Nordstrom Inc. said Thursday that its profit rose 17 percent in the third quarter even though its costs were higher than expected as shoppers began spending more.

Nordstrom reported earnings that missed analysts expectations by a penny but beat on revenue, causing the company's shares to fall in after-hours trading.

Americans spent about the same amount in October as in August and September, according to figures released by a key data service, and they may be settling into new low-spending habits.

Americans spent about the same amount in October as in August and September, according to figures released Thursday by a key data service, and they may be settling into new low-spending habits.

What follows is a roundup of corporate earnings reports for Thursday,  Nov. 12.

Nordstrom Inc., which operates its namesake department stores and the Nordstrom Rack discount chain, reports its earnings for its fiscal third quarter on Thursday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

Consumers borrowed less for a record eighth straight month in September amid rising unemployment and tight credit conditions.