Retail Sales

Shoppers walk next to sale sign at a mall in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. Americans scaled back their spending even more in September, resulting in weak sales for many retailers, as already skittish consumers grappled with the financial meltdown that's spreading around the globe. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Retail Sales

A customer checks out at a Target store in Lombard, Ill., on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007. Retailers reported mixed sales for November despite the strong start to the holiday shopping season. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

RETAIL SALES

** FILE ** A customer looks at a catalog next to a screen that can order merchandise online at a JC Penney's store in a Fricso, Texas file photo from March 1, 2006. Consumers seemingly unfazed by rising gasoline prices spent enthusiastically during April, giving retailers strong sales for the month. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Retail Sales

Customers at the check out stand at a Costco store in Mountain View, Calif., Thursday, June 7, 2007. Americans shopped hesitantly in May, giving retailers some relief from a dismal showing in April but still raising questions about how strong consumer spending will be in the months ahead. As the nation's merchants reported results Thursday, the disappointments included Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Macy's Inc. and teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Costco Wholesale Corp., Kohl's Corp. and luxury retailers like Saks Inc. beat expectations. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Economy Retail Sales

Kelli and Mark Beaver of Duncannon, Pa., load thier purchases into the back of their red mini van at WAL-MART Supercenter in Mechanicsburg, Pa., Thursday, June 12, 2008. Retail sales jumped by the largest amount in six months in May as 57 million economic stimulus payments helped offset the headwinds buffeting consumers. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Retail Sales Costco

** FILE ** In this Oct. 8, 2008 file photo, shoppers maneuver through the Costco store in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Warehouse-store chain Costco Wholesale Corp. on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008 said its same-store sales dropped 5 percent in November, dragged down by declining gas prices and foreign exchange rates. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, file)

Weak retail sales in June raise worries

FILE - In this May 27, 2009 file photo, shoppers wait in line to check out at Costco in Mountain View, Calif. Many retailers are reporting sharp sales declines for June, as rainy weather and escalating job worries kept consumers from buying summer staples like shorts and dresses. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)

Retail sales drop, but less than expected

Economy still vunerable as retail sales fall

In this April 9, 2009 photo, shoppers including Poi Wong and her daughter Jamie Guenthner, 7, foreground, shop at a Wal-Mart store in the Porter Ranch area of Los Angeles. Retail sales fell unexpectedly in March, delivering a setback to hopes that the economy's steep slide could be bottoming out. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Economy still vunerable as retail sales fall

Retail sales dip raises worries of recovery

Maylen Williams, 8, looks at a pair of jeans while doing back-to-school shopping at a Limited Too store on Monday, Aug. 28, 2006 in New York. Consumers boosted their spending by the largest amount in six months and the back-to-school shopping season also got off to a strong start this summer. The Commerce Department reported Thursday Aug. 31 that spending in July rose by a healthy 0.8 percent, double the 0.4 percent gain in June. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Weak retail sales in June raise worries

Sale signs are posted at The Children's Place at a mall in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, July 9, 2009. Retailers in all sectors reported weak same-store sales Thursday, but mall-based clothing stores suffered most in June compared with a year earlier, while some discounters scraped by. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Retail sales rise 1.4 percent in October

Chart shows seasonally adjusted retail sales

Retail sales figures point to subdued holidays

Chart shows seasonally adjusted retail sales

Signs show slow start on back-to-school sales

FILE - In this July 28, 2009 file photo, a shopper carries her child and shopping bags in Omaha, Neb. It's still early, but analysts' grades already are coming in: the back-to-school shopping season is off to a lousy start. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, file)

Bleak sales are another reality check for economy

In this Aug. 11, 2009 photo, shoppers move through the aisles at Kohl's department store in Springfield, Ill. The Commerce Department said Thursday, Aug. 13, retail sales fell 0.1 percent last month, a much worse performance than the 0.7 percent gain that economists had expected. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Retail sales figures point to subdued holidays

Susan Newman and Toyota salesman Dick Tran look at a 2010 Toyota Rav4 at a Toyota dealership in Palo Alto, Calif., Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. Retail sales rose more than expected in October due largely to a rebound in auto sales. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Retail sales rise 1.4 percent in October

Joann Ganim, left, and her husband Don Ganim, of Hamilton, Mass., right, look at the Chevrolet Traverse at Herb Chambers, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 in Danvers, Mass. Retail sales rose more than expected in October due largely to a big rebound in auto sales. But broader consumer spending remains under pressure, raising questions about the durability of the recovery.(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

Retail sales rise 1.4 percent in October

Joann Ganim, left, and her husband Don Ganim, of Hamilton, Mass., right, look at the Chevrolet Traverse at Herb Chambers, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 in Danvers, Mass. Retail sales rose more than expected in October due largely to a big rebound in auto sales. But broader consumer spending remains under pressure, raising questions about the durability of the recovery.(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

Retail sales figures point to subdued holidays

Susan Newman and Toyota salesman Dick Tran look at a 2010 Toyota Rav4 at a Toyota dealership in Palo Alto, Calif., Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. Retail sales rose more than expected in October due largely to a rebound in auto sales. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Retail sales figures point to subdued holidays

Joann Ganim, left, and her husband Don Ganim, of Hamilton, Mass., right, look at the Chevrolet Traverse at Herb Chambers, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 in Danvers, Mass. Retail sales rose more than expected in October due largely to a big rebound in auto sales. But broader consumer spending remains under pressure, raising questions about the durability of the recovery.(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

Retail sales rise 1.4 percent in October

In this Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, photo, BJ's employee Shelly LeRoy load a cart with a customer's purchases at the BJ's Wholesale Club in Camp Hill, Pa. The Commerce Department said Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, retail sales rose 1.4 percent last month, much better than the 0.8 percent gain economists had expected.(AP Photo Carolyn Kaster)

Retail sales rise 1.4 percent in October

In this Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, photo, BJ's employee Shelly LeRoy load a cart with a customer's purchases at the BJ's Wholesale Club in Camp Hill, Pa. The Commerce Department said Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, retail sales rose 1.4 percent last month, much better than the 0.8 percent gain economists had expected.(AP Photo Carolyn Kaster)

Retail sales rise 1.4 percent in October

In this Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, photo, BJ's employee Shelly LeRoy load a cart with a customer's purchases at the BJ's Wholesale Club in Camp Hill, Pa. The Commerce Department said Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, retail sales rose 1.4 percent last month, much better than the 0.8 percent gain economists had expected.(AP Photo Carolyn Kaster)

Stocks jump as retail sales rebound in October

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2008 file photo, a Wall St. street sign is seen near the New York Stock Exchange in New York. Investors grew more upbeat about the economy Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, after retail sales rebounded more than expected in October and as a weaker dollar sent commodity prices higher.(AP Photo/Jin Lee, file)