By Phil Wahba

(Reuters) – J.C. Penney Co Inc (JCP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) slid as much as 8 percent on Friday after UBS published a research note saying holiday quarter sales have likely been worse than expected and questioned the retailer’s ability to roll out its new shops on schedule.

Penney, which operates 1,100 department stores, last January announced a bold turnaround plan that called for the elimination of most coupons and sales events, along with the eventual transformation of each of its 700 largest stores into a collection of 100 shops for brands like Levi’s and PVH Corp’s (PVH.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Izod.

Jan 10 (Reuters) – Tiffany & Co posted holiday sales
that suggested its torrid growth of recent years was stagnating
in the United States, Japan and Europe, with China the only
bright spot for the upscale jeweler.

The company, famed for its blue boxes and its Fifth Avenue
flagship in Manhattan, said on Thursday that worldwide sales at
stores open at least year were flat in November and December, a
period that can account for one-third of jewelers’ annual sales
and almost half of profit.

By Phil Wahba

(Reuters) – Retail sales rose 2.5 percent during the 2012 holiday season, helped by a late surge in shopping trips right before Christmas, retail tracking firm ShopperTrak said on Wednesday, the latest sign that retailers had a solid but not great season.

ShopperTrak, which monitors the number of people walking into stores across the United States, said foot traffic also rose 2.5 percent in November and December.

By Phil Wahba

(Reuters) – Signet Jewelers Ltd (SIG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported brisk holiday season sales at both of its major U.S. chains, the mid-priced Kay Jewelers and the higher end Jared stores, and said business has remained good as the jeweler heads toward Valentine’s Day.

The report eased concerns over whether slumping consumer confidence in December might dent sales of items shoppers can easily do without, such as jewelry, especially after signs of slowing sales in the autumn.

Jan 3 (Reuters) – Barnes & Noble Inc on Thursday
reported a sharp drop in revenue in its Nook business as it sold
fewer e-readers and tablets at its own stores.

The bookseller, which also saw fewer shoppers come in to its
bookstores, has bet heavily on its Nook business, which includes
e-readers and tablets as well as digital books, as a source of
growth.

, Dec 24 (Reuters) – Retailers
limped into Christmas with last-minute blowout deals on
everything from TVs to celebrity-branded clothing, after a
disappointing few weeks of sales led many analysts to lower
their expectations for the holiday season.

Some industry watchers said shoppers were making smaller
purchases, even though they are still visiting stores and
browsing online. Since the holiday quarter can account for about
30 percent of annual sales and half of profit for many chains,
such small distinctions can be crucial.

, Dec 24 (Reuters) – Retailers
limped into Christmas with last-minute blowout deals on
everything from TVs to celebrity-branded clothing, after a
disappointing few weeks of sales led many analysts to lower
their expectations for the holiday season.

Some industry watchers said shoppers were making smaller
purchases, even though they are still visiting stores and
browsing online. Since the holiday quarter can account for about
30 percent of annual sales and half of profit for many chains,
such small distinctions can be crucial.

MARTINSBURG, West Virginia (Reuters) – The brave new world for U.S. retailers can be found in small cities like Martinsburg, West Virginia.

That’s where department store chain Macy’s Inc recently opened a facility the size of 43 football fields – big enough to stock 1 million pairs of shoes – just to fulfill orders made online.

MARTINSBURG, West Virginia, Dec 24 (Reuters) – The brave new
world for U.S. retailers can be found in small cities like
Martinsburg, West Virginia.

That’s where department store chain Macy’s Inc
recently opened a facility the size of 43 football fields – big
enough to stock 1 million pairs of shoes – just to fulfill
orders made online.

NEW YORK/WESTBURY, New York (Reuters) – U.S. retailers may not see a sales surge this weekend as ho-hum discounts and fears about imminent tax hikes and cuts in government spending give Americans fewer reasons to open their wallets in the last few days before Christmas.

The acrimonious debate in Washington over how to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff” is one of a number of concerns weighing on shoppers, experts said, as consumers head to malls on the last Saturday ahead of the holiday – typically one of the busiest shopping days of the year.