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After 40 years at Montana mall, manager prepares to say goodbye

Dec 5, 2024
The Butte Plaza Mall is in its last holiday shopping season before new owners take over. "It's time to change," says manager Alana Ferko.

Black Friday deals hitting your inbox already? You're not alone.

Nov 4, 2024
We're barely out of Halloween, yet retailers are keen to get the holiday shopping season started.

Back-to-school shoppers have value at the top of their lists

Aug 8, 2024
Brands are tasked with coaxing more inflation-weary parents into spending.
"Consumers might say, 'OK, I’m going to shop at a discount store when I might have previously shopped at a traditional big box store,'" says Claire Tassin, an analyst with Morning Consult.
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Retail sales figures are flat but a deeper dive shows consumer resilience

Jul 16, 2024
Spending in many sectors, like furniture and online shopping, was strong. Falling prices also depressed the top line numbers in some categories.
When you take out car sales and gas spending, consumers actually spent 0.8% more in June than in May.
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Back-to-school shopping season has started really early this year.
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Retail sales climbed to a higher-than-expected 0.7% in March

Apr 15, 2024
Consumers are still spending, but that looks a little different now than it has the past few years.
Spending at nonstore retailers — like Temu or Amazon — rose 2.7% last month.
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For public good, not for profit.

Faced with an onslaught of returns, retailers are telling shoppers: "Just keep it."

Dec 1, 2023
“Returnless refunds” or “keep it" return policies have now been adopted by more than half of major retailers, according to a new survey.

Things are "awesome and amazing" at this Montana mall

Jun 16, 2022
Alana Ferko explains what's new at the Butte Plaza Mall.
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