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Top U.S. retailers including Wal-Mart and Target are battling to limit a new federal law that could force them to report whether their store-brand goods contain minerals from war-torn Central Africa.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Jo-Ann Stores late Wednesday reported third-quarter net income of $29.1 million, or $1.09 a share, up from $24.1 million, or 90 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter. Revenue rose 5.1% to $535.3 million. Analysts surveyed by FactSet were looking for earnings of $1.08 a share. The fabric and craft retailer also raised its 2011 earnings outlook to a range of $3.35 to $3.45 a share compared with the previous forecast of $3.20 to $3.35 a share. Copyright © 2010 MarketWatch, Inc.

Ever wonder what kind of phone your great-grandfather might have purchased in the age before smartphones? Ancestry.com has spent the past year working with Sears to archive over 250,000 pages of Sears, Roebuck & Company fall and spring season catalogs spanning from 1896 to 1993.

Millward Brown revealed findings from a recent U.S. study that looked at why people continue to shop in stores despite the convenience of online shopping.

Consumers are excited about the approaching holiday season, but still cautious about spending, raising the appeal of daily-deal sites for holiday shopping this year. 

Black Friday shoppers shunned credit cards at the start of the holiday season, according to a survey released on Tuesday, adding a cautionary note to expectations for U.S. retail sales over the next few weeks.

Gilt Groupe has made a name for itself operating a successful flash-sale site that offers its members products and experiences at heavily discounted prices for a limited period of time. Now, the company is turning to traditional e-commerce for its next trick.

Barnes & Noble’s earnings released on Tuesday underscore the remarkable rise of the electronic books business, a major attraction for prospective buyers of the company. Still, the company doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to sell.

Weekly retail sales rose in the week ended Nov. 27 as shoppers flocked to Black Friday sales with renewed confidence following the economic downturn.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Motherhood Maternity(R) announced today that its Plus maternity apparel will be available in more stores. As of today, one hundred additional store locations nationwide will carry Plus assortments. These additional stores will carry the core Plus styles including must-have jeans and twill pants, layering side ruched tees, sweaters, and fashion tops. These essential styles are the basics that the full-figured mom-to-be will use to begin building her maternity wardrobe. The complete Motherhood(R) Plus collection is available online and features a variety of styles sure to fit and flatter the expectant woman's changing shape.