Retail Stores

Retailers are expected to show a moderate increase in May sales, as high gas prices likely tempered consumer demand for summer clothing and other discretionary items. Analysts on average are expecting a 5.3 percent increase in May sales at stores open at least a year, according to Thomson Reuters data. 

Backed by an improving economy, a recent surge in jobs and 10 consecutive months of rising retail sales, a broad range of retailers are poised to fill up empty retail spaces over the next 12 months to 18 months, according to Colliers International.  

Barneys New York, the luxury specialty retailer, announced today that its e-commerce website, Barneys.com, has introduced international shipping to 90 countries including Canada, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia and China.

Continuing with its global expansion strategy, Gap announced plans to open its first store in an outlet center in Italy: a Gap store at the Vicolungo Outlet Center near Milan.

Stevie Koerner sells silver pendants on Etsy. The pendants come in the shapes of states with little heart-shaped cutouts. Cute, right? But maybe too cute, because the pendants caught the eye of Urban Outfitters, which now sells pendants in the shapes of states with little heart-shaped cutouts too. 

In what's pretty much an unprecedented move by any major retailer, Old Navy is releasing a line of gay pride T-shirts this summer. The designs will be sold in all 1,035 Old Navy locations, which means that teens, moms and families across the country will encounter the shirts in malls, practically the modern equivalent of the town square.

Ash, one of the fastest-growing contemporary shoe and accessories brands, has made its way to America. The first U.S. Ash store location opened in New York City's SoHo district at 44 Mercer Street.

Williams-Sonoma reported that net income for the quarter ended May 1 hiked 62 percent to $31.6 million from $19.5 million a year earlier, topping company expectations.

The Disney Store announced plans to open its interactive concept stores in more than 40 locations in 2011. Building on the successful launch of the innovative design in 2010 and fueled by demand from retail property owners eager to bring the one-of-a-kind shopping destination to their centers, Disney Store will continue to expand its presence across the world.

Economists urged "extreme caution" about reading too much into a strong rebound in retail sales last month, as chains were boosted by the hottest April on record, a glut of bank holidays and the Royal Wedding.