Consumer confidence edges higher, helped by low rates

A measure of Australian consumer sentiment edged higher in September as an improvement in personal finances made people more likely to splash out on big ticket items, a survey showed on Wednesday.

JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman to fight it out over electronics market

Gerry Harvey declares he isn't worried by beefed-up competitor.

Dick Smith gives JB Hi-Fi a hand from the grave

• COMMENT

The demise of retailer Dick Smith has helped pave the way for a new giant in home appliance and electronics retailing through the $870 million union of JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys.

JB Hi-Fi buys The Good Guys for $870m

JB Hi-Fi will buy rival electronics and whitegoods retailer The Good Guys for $870 million.

Giralang residents angry as Woolworths gives up store dream

Giralang residents have condemned the Labor government's support for a compromise position on a new supermarket after Woolworths announced it was pulling its long-held ambition to build in the suburb. 

Under the hammer: Is the DIY industry screwed?

Every business has its season and for hardware its spring, but there's a pall hanging over home improvement's high season.

Who built Dick Smith's House of Cards?

• COMMENT

The scorecard in the Dick Smith game of deception versus incompetence is a hard one to read.

Shoppers face less choice as Metcash culls product range

Grocery wholesaler joins the big chains in reviewing and slashing its product range.

Cotton On aims for more than $2 billion in sales as it expands globally

Homegrown apparel success story the Cotton On Group is on the verge of becoming a global business, with revenue from its international outposts about to surpass what it earns in Australia.

Woolworths 'stitched up' Lowe's

US retailer Lowe's claims it was "stitched up" by Woolworths in a deal to sell Masters for $800 million.

How to pick the fastest checkout line

Doesn't matter where you go, you always end up in the slowest line? This one's for you.

Debenhams eyes off Myer and David Jones customers

British department store Debenhams in bringing back affordable, designer fashion to Australia.

Today's consumer buys the fridge rather than the food

What do Australians that haven't seen a decent pay rise or whose wages are moving backwards spend their money on? It's turning traditional retail theory on its head.

'No horrible skeletons in the closet'

Dick Smith chairman Rob Murray wanted to get rid of CEO Nick Abboud months before the retailer collapsed, a court has heard.

Why Lego wanted people to stop buying its toys

Everything has been a bit too awesome for the world's most profitable toymaker, which is struggling to keep up with demand for its building blocks.

Retail sales to continue to slow: Deloitte

Retail sales will continue to slow this year as low wages growth sees Australians spend less at the supermarket, Deloitte Access Economics has warned.

Farmers Fund milk about to hit Coles shelves

Despite kicking off the so-called supermarket milk wars, Coles is launching a new, more expensive home brand to help struggling dairy farmers.

Dick Smith board 'concerned' about excess stock

Dick Smith had more than 330 stores across the country but only 62 stocktakes were carried out last year, a court has heard.

Former McDonald's execs, private equity firm swallow Pizza Hut

Three former McDonald's executives and a Sydney private equity firm have bought the master franchisee licence for Pizza Hut in Australia from US parent company Yum! Brands.

Online phone retailers caught not supplying goods

Online retailers Android Enjoyed, Camera Sky and Klukkur all subject of NSW Fair Trading warning.

Dick Smith's bizarre retail practices

• ANALYSIS

Just why would Dick Smith have acquired something from a supplier at 98¢ and sell the same thing back to the supplier at 78¢?

No, the internet has not killed the printed book

Three-quarters of Americans read a book last year, and the most popular platform was print.

Taxing times for winemakers

Crackdown on tax rorts in wine industry gets thumbs up from wine giant Treasury Wine Estates, but some winemakers say government has gone too far.

Westfield isn’t like the shopping malls of the ’90s

• COMMENT

In a rush of nostalgia, four girls of the ’90s stroll through the shiny new Westfield mall.

Consumer sentiment worries retailers as Christmas looms

It's been blamed on the super-sized election, property prices and even the Indian summer but with just 112 days until Christmas, shopper sentiment is worrying on some of Australia's top retailers.

Bunnings' price promise will not apply to Master fire-sale

Bunnings will not undercut Masters' fire-sale prices as the inventory liquidation ramps up.

DJ's food plans a risk for Coles and Woolies: Moody's

David Jones' appetite for Australia's up-market food sector will lure big-spending foodies away from Coles and Woolworths and take a bite of ouf the chains' future earnings.

Collins Foods eyes expansion

Collins Foods is focused on expanding its fast food restaurant operations following its recent acquisition of 13 KFC stores.

Target pulls 'sexist' girls' shirt from stores

Target Australia has withdrawn a Batgirl T-shirt aimed at young girls from its stores following an outcry over a "sexist message" to do with dry cleaning and other household chores.