Macy's

Vacancies at U.S. regional malls rose to the highest level in at least a decade in the first quarter, a sign that landlords are struggling to keep tenants after the recession even as retail sales rise.

The cross-channel retail industry is at a crossroads. For starters, due to the economic downturn, the past couple of years have been difficult for the retail sector. But that's changing. Retailers are starting to see signs of life and are breathing a sigh of relief. At press time, for example, it was announced that February retail sales increased 0.6 percent over January and 4.2 percent year-over-year, according to the National Retail Federation.

For years marketers have cited the success of 2-D barcodes overseas and eagerly waited (and waited) for them to take hold in the U.S. Thanks to prominent endorsements from Target, Best Buy, Macy's and Post Cereals, that day might finally be nearing.

Macy's reported an impressive 30.9 percent gain in sales at its Macy's and Bloomingdales' websites last month. That growth contributed to the department store's ability to outpace analysts' estimates for February, with a 5.8 percent gain in the company's same-store sales.

Retailers appear to have overestimated the spending momentum of consumers and are delivering December sales numbers that show the poor economy still has the upper hand.

A sampling of key insights posted on RetailOnlineIntegration.com last month:

Macy's posted a profit for the period ending Oct. 30, coming back from a loss the same time a year ago, as sales rose.

Across the country, Macy's is ringing in this Christmas with local flavor, from Elvis ornaments in Tennessee to Texas-themed martini glasses. These 2,200 themed ornaments and other decor sold locally for the holidays are vivid examples of how Macy's is looking to harness the magic this Christmas and beyond.

Same-store retail sales for October were up 1.7 percent, a smaller increase compared to the gains in September with 2.8 percent and 2.3 percent in October 2009, according to Kantar Retail's monthly report of 31 U.S. retailers.