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Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to be up 8 percent in January over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

The USPS filed for an inflation-based rate increase that, if approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, will take effect on April 17. The overall increase reflects the current 1.741 percent CPI cap. As they did in last year’s rejected exigency rate case filing, catalogs fared better than most.

Google is constantly finding new ways to improve online search. Its efforts are increasingly geared towards local product listings. Google Local Shopping, a free service, makes it easier for merchants to list their local products online and for consumers to find these commodities.

Target has acquired the Canadian leases for 220 sites currently operated by Zellers, a subsidiary of the Hudson's Bay Company, for $1.8 billion. It represents Target's first foray outside the U.S. Target will sublease these sites to Zellers for a period of time, until the retailer opens its first stores in Canada beginning in 2013.

The National Retail Federation has released Version 2.0 of its Mobile Blueprint, which provides significant updates to the original document published in July by the Mobile Retail Initiative (MRI). The MRI brings together the collaborative strengths of NRF's IT standards division, ARTS; digital division, Shop.org; marketing division, RAMA and NRF's CIO Council to provide the retail industry guidance in successful use of mobile in marketing, commerce and internal operations.

The National Retail Federation and First Data Corporation released results from a research study of data security and fraud prevention strategies practiced at small- to medium-sized retailers. The analysis was revealed during the NRF Big Show 2011.

The U.S. Commerce Department reported that retail sales rose 0.6 percent in December and 6.6 percent in 2010. Retail trade sales were 8.2 percent above 2009, representing strong annual growth and gains for six consecutive months. December's increase was slightly below private-sector expectations, which were a gain of 0.8 percent. Overall retail sales, excluding automobiles, grew 0.5 percent in December and a strong 5.9 percent for the full year of 2010. General merchandise stores fell 0.7 percent in December, but gained 3 percent in sales for the year 2010.

ACI Worldwide released the results of a recent study, which shows that retailers simply aren't getting it right when it comes to their loyalty and rewards programs. Consumers say programs have become too complicated and burdensome, and they aren't truly driving loyalty.

Retail sales rose for a sixth consecutive month in December, helped by big gains in sales of autos and furniture. The increases helped lift sales activity for the year by the largest amount in more than a decade.

While it seems online shopping is the way of the future, Gap is doing just the opposite. Its Athleta brand specializes in women's active wear, and now has its own brick-and-mortar store. Janet Babin reports on how this move might help the brand. Athleta apparel. (Athleta/Gap Inc.) More on Retail TEXT OF STORY Kai Ryssdal: We're off to the land of retail for this next story. We hear all the time these days about the growth of online sales, about how brick-and-mortar stores may soon be a thing of the past. Gap reversed the trend today. It opened a