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Valentine's Day chocolate sales were strong ... but it'd be helpful if you shopped earlier

Feb 17, 2023
"It's fun but it's difficult to know how much to make when everyone comes in on the same day," said Kristin Thalheimer Bingham, co-owner of Dean's Sweets in Portland, Maine.
Courtesy Melissa Mullen Photography

A 118-year-old department store perseveres in a tenuous economy

Feb 17, 2023
How a department store more than a century old has survived two pandemics, the Great Depression, and multiple recessions.
Dunham's Department Store in Wellsboro, PA. Ann Dunham Rawson, whose great-grandparents opened Dunham's, said the store is doing well despite wider economic anxiety.
Courtesy Ann Dunham Rawson

The retail sector sees signs of a cautious consumer

Feb 13, 2023
Most executives predict that consumers will continue to be more selective this year.
Consumers could adopt more cautious habits as they feel more economic stress, some analysts say.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Disney “leans in” to existing franchises

Feb 9, 2023
Because if people liked a "Frozen 2," wouldn’t they like a "Frozen 3?"
Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

Business inventories are finally rebounding, a sign of a healing supply chain

Feb 8, 2023
In January, business inventories expanded. That's a positive sign about the economy's health.
The January Logistics Managers Index found that businesses expanded their inventories, which is a good sign about the health of the economy.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Businesses keep close watch on Blinken China visit

Feb 3, 2023
U.S.-China tensions have put Chinese businesses on edge.
Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, is expected to meet with senior Chinese leaders in a visit that could set the tone for the wider U.S.-China relationship.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

How New Year's resolutions boost the wellness business

Jan 31, 2023
Lots of people make New Year's resolutions about wellness, but how does that affect businesses?
Companies peddling wellness can experience a boost in sales after the holiday season as people implement their New Year's resolutions.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Manufacturing sector shows more signs of cooling

Jan 24, 2023
Monthly data from the Federal Reserve shows a slowdown in shipments, new orders and employment in the sector.
The manufacturing sector added only 8,000 jobs per month in November and December — well below the average of 32,000.
Megan Jelinger/Getty images
The company is under scrutiny following last year's debacle involving problems with Taylor Swift tickets.
Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

Declining December retail sales hit especially hard for small businesses

Jan 18, 2023
How did this holiday season go? A few entrepreneurs weigh in.
The latest retail sales data shows a larger-than-expected decrease in purchases in December. For small businesses, those declines hit harder.
SouthWorks/Getty Images