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With four straight months of sales gains under their belts and the holiday season fast approaching, retailers have reason for optimism as consumer spending finally shows momentum. According to the National Retail Federation, October retail industry sales increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted over September and 2.6 percent unadjusted over last year.

Three years after the Supreme Court authorized manufacturers to set prices at retailers, the Dallas boutique that lost the landmark ruling is asking the justices to take another look. In an appeal filed Monday, Kay's Kloset contends lower courts have gone too far in applying the 2007 decision, reading it as giving manufacturers carte blanche to fix prices rather than analyzing each pricing agreement for its anticompetitive impact.

Retail stocks rose after the Commerce Department reported the biggest monthly retail sales increase since March, giving an encouraging note as the industry readies for its biggest selling period.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Williams-Sonoma Inc. said Tuesday that Chairman Emeritus W. Howard Lester died at the age of 75 on Monday after a battle with cancer. Lester was chairman and chief executive of Williams-Sonoma from 1978 to May 2010. Copyright © 2010 MarketWatch, Inc.

NEW YORK -- Saks Inc. said on Tuesday that its third-quarter net income rose to $36.3 million, or 24 cents a share, from $6.3 million, or 4 cents a share a year ago. The latest quarterly results include a gain of $26.7 million, or 14 cents a share related to the reversal of certain estimated income tax reserves. Excluding this gain, the saks would posted net income of $9.7 million, or $.06 per share. Saks' revenue in the quarter rose to $658.8 million, from $631.4 million. Analysts polled by FactSet Research had expected the company to earn 2 cents

STOCKHOLM -(Dow Jones)- Fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB (HM-B.SK) Monday said sales in October rose in line with expectations, after slow consumer spending, especially in France, Spain and the U.S., knocked sales a year earlier. The world's third largest fashion chain after U.S.-based Gap Inc. (GPS) and Spain's Inditex S.A. (ITX.MC) said sales from stores open more than a year rose 3%, somewhat below expectations of a 4.6% rise, while total sales were up 13%, in line with forecasts. H&M's sales have risen consistently in recent months, as the retailer has continued to attract consumers by

In the face of difficult market conditions, including a sluggish lift in consumer spend, retailers are under pressure to streamline their e-commerce site's navigational ease of use and relevancy of products offered.

ShareThis WASHINGTON — National Retail Federation here on Monday said retail sales for October were up 2.6% over a year ago, indicating a relatively strong start for the holiday season. Related Articles WASHINGTON — Retail sales growth during September was stronger than private sector expectations and signals a broadening economic recovery, the U.S. Department of Commerce here said Friday. ... The NRF numbers, which exclude auto sales, gas stations and restaurants, were released as the U.S. Commerce Department said retail sales rose even more when those items were included. The Commerce Department said Monday that its tally of October

Bloomberg's Monica Bertran reports on the increasing popularity of pop-up stores, temporary retail spots usually seen during the holiday season.

There's no question that Groupon can be a great deal for shoppers — since 2008 it has sold more than 13 million coupons, delivering discounts of more than $570 million. But are these deals working in favor of the stores offering them, or do they backfire?