retail

Published
May 17, 2022

Retail sales rise 0.9% in April as consumers show resilience

The increase was driven by greater sales of cars, electronics, and at restaurants, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.
Published
April 25, 2022

JCPenney owners offer $8.6 billion for Kohl’s

Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management are offering to acquire retailer Kohl's Corp. in a deal that would be worth more than $8.6 billion, according to a report in the New York Post.
Published
March 21, 2022

Maine businesses pitching in to support Ukraine

The Retail Association of Maine is seeking donations from its members and the public, L.L. Bean is sending $300,000 in money and goods, and One Longfellow Square is holding a benefit concert.
Published
March 18, 2022

L.L. Bean sales grow 14% during 2nd year of pandemic; workers get 12% cash bonus

Growing interest in the outdoors during the pandemic continues boost the Freeport-based retailer's sales.
Published
March 14, 2022

Legislature moving to curb ‘dark store theory’ tax assessments

The challenges to assessments of large retail operations can cost communities million in property tax collections.
Published
March 4, 2022

Maine businesses make few changes despite end of CDC mask advisory

Most retailers in the state already had dropped masking requirements for customers, and some had done so for public-facing workers.
Published
February 16, 2022

January retail sales surged 3.8% as threat of omicron faded

Last month’s increase was the largest since last March, when most American households received a final federal stimulus check of $1,400.
Published
February 14, 2022

Maine businesses and residents feel inflation’s bite

Business owners and consumers say higher prices threaten to slow the state's economic recovery as inflation hits a 40-year high.
Published
January 30, 2022

The View From Here: ‘The Curse of Bigness’

The arrival of yet another big-box retailer in southern Maine is nothing to celebrate.
Published
January 22, 2022

Commentary: Holiday gift returns choking retailers, landfills

Merchants won customers’ hearts with lenient refund policies. Now it’s backfiring, with dire financial and environmental results.