The industry has been bracing for a wave of retailer bankruptcies and closings. Little by little, that is now beginning. Shane Co., a jeweler with 23 stores, has filed for bankruptcy protection. Meanwhile, Cost Plus is closing 26 stores.
This is just getting weird. The merger was so long ago. Is there really anything to halt in the merger at this point? The deal was originally announced almost two years ago--February 2007. The Federal Trade Commission first attempted to block it...
The downturn has been quick and dramatic. And because of that, some economists are now arguing that the recovery will take place sooner than many expect. ...