Retail expert Katie Thomas scours her local shopping mall in Pittsburgh to divine what Americans’ shopping habits reveal about the economy and the nation’s future.
Shopping
Posted inNPR
Claire’s, the ear-piercing tween mall staple, is bankrupt — again
The chain’s bankruptcy filing is the second in seven years. Its troubles include unwieldy debt, shoppers’ changing habits and new tariff costs.
Posted inNPR
Prime Day — er, Days — tests deal hunters’ will to spend amid tariffs
Electronics and back-to-school supplies are expected to top many shoppers’ lists.
Posted inNPR
Retailers feel pressure to eat the price increases from tariffs
From Target to Walmart, retailers are fighting two battles at once: a financial battle to keep costs low in the face of new tariffs, and a political one to avoid the president’s wrath.
Posted inNPR
Home Depot won’t raise prices because of tariffs. But some items may disappear
The home improvement chain broke from many other retailers, who say they cannot afford to absorb new tariffs. President Trump recently attacked Walmart for warning of price hikes.
Posted inNPR
Dick’s Sporting Goods is buying Foot Locker for $2.4 billion
Together, the two retailers will have to wade the choppy waters of new tariffs on imports, including footwear. And they’ll face the growing competition from shoe brands selling directly to shoppers.
Posted inNPR
Will tariffs drive more people to shop secondhand? It’s a mixed bag, experts say
This moment of economic uncertainty could drive more Americans to buy used. But experts say secondhand stores won’t be immune from tariffs either.
Posted inNPR
Canada’s Hudson’s Bay has survived 355 years. Now the store is in crisis
The department store chain, founded in 1670, can’t pay its debts and says the pandemic, inflation and now trade tensions have hurt its financial future.
Posted inNPR
NPR shopped for 96 items at Walmart to track how prices are really changing
NPR has tracked the prices of dozens of items at the same superstore in Georgia, including eggs, T-shirts, snacks and paper towels. Here’s what got cheaper over the past year, and more expensive.
Posted inNPR
‘Tis the season for porch pirates. Here are some tips to help protect your items
Retailers are warning Americans to be vigilant about their packages and not let porch pirates steal the holiday spirit,
