Retail Stores

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The second half of the year is off to a slow start for retailers, who reported Thursday that sales at stores open at least a year were weaker than expected in July, increasing 2.9 percent from July of last year, according to a tally by Thomson Reuters.

The Conference Board reported Tuesday morning that consumer confidence declined in July for the second straight month. And yet there are signs that back-to-school shopping isn't going to be a disaster. In the most recent week, sales rose 0.6 percent from the week before and were up 3.8 percent from the year before. Sales have risen from the week before in six of the last nine weeks; and over the past two months, weekly sales have been up between 2.5 percent and 4.2 percent from the year before.

Bedbugs — nocturnal, bloodsucking insects about the size of an apple seed and notoriously tough to eradicate — are taking a bite out of Manhattan business this summer. The bugs may be little, but their effect can be big, from damaging a brand's image, to sparking major changes in retailers' return policies, to requiring frequent pest-control checkups that can cost thousands of dollars a visit.

REI may be one of the best companies at turning shopping into an experience and turning customers into devoted patrons. That's because REI isn't merely a place to pick up parkas, tents or bikes. It's a store where customers can go to learn how to use a GPS device on a trail, figure out which local waterways offer the best kayaking for beginners and discover what to pack for a summit attempt on a 14,000-foot peak. It's a place where outdoor enthusiasts go to be inspired.

Microsoft is planning to open "dozens" of retail stores, beyond the four that currently exist, the company's COO said recently.

Back-to-school spending may rise as much as 16 percent in the U.S. this year, reversing year-ago declines and putting more muscle behind the economic rebound. Families with students plan to spend about $55.1 billion in the period, compared with $47.5 billion a year earlier, the National Retail Federation said, citing consumers surveyed by BIGResearch.

Retail sales fell in June for the second straight month, more evidence that the recovery will slow in the second half of the year. Spending on retail goods dropped 0.5 percent in June, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. That followed a 1.1 percent fall in May. Excluding autos, spending was down 0.1 percent in June. Pulling down the overall June figures was a drop in auto sales and declining gas prices. When taking those out, sales would have risen 0.1 percent for the month.

Mounting job losses and other economic realities caught up with Americans in June, pushing down a key barometer of consumer sentiment after a streak of gains built on glimmers of hope. Some economists say the reality check offered by Tuesday's report from the New York-based Conference Board may not augur well for spending in the critical months ahead. The Conference Board said its Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 49.3, down from its revised May level of 54.8.

No, you're not seeing things. Before I get started with this month's Editor's Note, let me point out the obvious: As you can see from our new logo on the cover, All About ROI is now Retail Online Integration.