Consumers give stores some relief but still spend cautiously
By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO, AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Consumers gave some of the nation's retailers a little relief in April after months of dismal sales, gravitating toward less expensive discounters and wholesale clubs but generally still shying away from stores selling clothes and other non-necessities.
Monthly sales reports issued Thursday were better than expected, but still pointed to a consumer contending with rising gas prices, sagging home values and worries about jobs. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corp. were among the top performers last month, while most mall-based apparel stores struggled.
"Consumers are focusing on value and price points and stretching their dollars," said Ken Perkins president of RetailMetrics LLC, a research company in Swampscott, Mass. "They are feeling the pinch on multiple fronts."
He and other analysts expect only a modest uptick in sales in May and June as consumers spend tax re
Poverty experiment eye-opening for leaders in Buffalo
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Community advocates in Buffalo are drawing attention to the problem of poverty in upstate's largest city.
Recent census numbers rank Buffalo as the nation's second-
NY congressman admits affair, out-of-wedlock child
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Rep. Vito Fossella of New York acknowledged on Thursday that he fathered a child from an extramarital affair, answering question
Facebook, states agree on new safeguards
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Officials from several states say Facebook has agreed to implement more than 40 safeguards to protect younger users.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenth
Celebrated upstate NY home design company sold
AURORA, N.Y. (AP) - A private equity firm with offices in Rochester and Manhattan has purchased MacKenzie-Childs from American Doll creator Pleasant Rowland, who rescued the high-end home furnishings
» Full StoryNY court keeps leasing company officers in fraud case
By MICHAEL VIRTANEN, Associated Press Writer
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York's highest court refused Tuesday to dismiss fraud claims against officers of an equipment-leasing company accused of
paul Smiths College Grads
Ausable River Fish stocking
volunteers
heuvelton@SL boys lacrosse
Beekmantown@SL Track
SL Methodist Church Drumming
B'dale VFD dinner
My Gallery