Supermarkets to prosper from softening economy

Coles and Woolworths' sales will grow by as much as 5 per cent in the next five years as Australian households buy more supermarket food to cut household costs.

Radio Rentals class action may take 'years to run its course'

Thorn Group says a $50 million class action involving past lending practices of its subsidiary Radio Rentals could drag on for years.

Myer play is a classic Solly Lew move

If history is any guide, Solomon Lew's swoop on a significant stake in Myer is from a playbook he's used many times before.

'War zone' in tomato country sparks shortage warning

• UPDATED

Australia's tomato and capsicum supply could be under threat after Cyclone Debbie smashed the key production area around Bowen on the Queensland central coast.

Amazon may be 'fully operational' in Australia by 2018

Retail giant plans has yet to commit to bricks and mortar grocery stores.

Power price surge: Woolies has bad news for shoppers

Brad Banducci warns soaring electricity prices are a 'material issue' and will lead to higher prices on the shelves.

Solomon Lew could chart Myer's future

Solomon Lew's raid on Myer's shares this week will determine the future of the grand old dame of Australian department store retailing.

Oroton scraps dividend as profit halves

• UPDATED

Oroton Group has scrapped its dividend after first-half profit slumped more than 50 per cent.

Why Solly Lew would make a Myer play

• COMMENT

Billionaire retailer Solomon Lew has a plan for department store group Myer but it's one that is not likely to involve making a takeover bid anytime soon - he just needs a stake to ensure someone else can't buy the company.

Myer surges on mystery shopper taking 10 per cent stake

Myer's shares have soared 18 per cent after a mystery buyer snapped up a significant stake in the company in a late spree.

Shops and malls are working harder for the retail dollar

• ANALYSIS

Volatility at the petrol pump has emerged as a major area of concern for shopping centre managers, due to the wild fluctuations in price over recent months.

Did Aldi just break the golden rule of rebrands?

German discount supermarket to roll out new signs across the world for the first time in 20 years.

'Review' is no 'investigation' roars Harvey Norman

Pressure is mounting on Harvey Norman after it admitted its accounts were under investigation by the corporate watchdog.

Having 'lost its way', Pumpkin Patch faces online revival

Pumpkin Patch will be revived as a mostly online business after the owner e-commerce store CatchOfTheDay bought the collapsed children clothing retailer's brand and intellectual assets.

Sell Kmart to transform Target - Credit Suisse

Wesfarmers must put Kmart up for sale to avoid the Target revival turning into a "zero sum game" for the conglomerate.

Six graphs that explain Australia's retail carnage

• ANALYSIS

Major bank tips tough two years for Australia's retailers because wages aren't growing and international retailers keep setting up shop.

China wants 'level playing field' for e-commerce

China has declared it wants to level the playing field for Australian and Chinese companies selling products online, on the eve of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's arrival to Australia.

'People are just making things up', says Gerry Harvey

Billionaire retailer Gerry Harvey said his wife's decision to sell a parcel of her Harvey Norman shares last week was about covering a tax bill and had nothing to do with Monday's share price rout.

Aldi reignites debate over plastic bag ban

Kenya plans to ban them and Uruguay plans to tax them. But Australians receive free plastic shopping bags almost everywhere they shop. Now Aldi is calling for a ban.

Australia is 'our great opportunity', says Kathmandu

Consumer confidence in both Australia and New Zealand "reasonably OK", says activewear chain.

Smiggle, Peter Alexander shine among retail gloom

Smiggle and Peter Alexander have defied the gloomy retail conditions to post strong sales, helping Premier Investment's profit inch higher.

Receivers launch legal action against Dick Smith directors, ex-CEO

The receivers of collapsed electronics chain Dick Smith have launched legal action against eight directors and executives.

Would you wear this jumper for 30 years? Rag trader says yes

Call it the anti fast-fashion label. Twenty-six-year-old Tom Cridland has gained an outsized profile for his fashion label thanks to actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Craig, and savvy self-promotion.

Fashion fail won't force 'foolish' discounts says Myer boss

Myer chief Richard Umbers blames "discount fatigue" for the department store chain's weak second quarter sales performance.

The cost of Myer's refusal to play the discounting game

• COMMENT

The much-trumpeted revival of the Myer Department store chain has experienced a hitch.

Fast fashion fades as H&M;, Zara's profitability falls

Fast fashion is getting tougher as consumer rather spend up on leisure activities and buy more clothes from the rising number of online suppliers. Zara's profitability has shrunk to an eight-year low and H&M; reported its first sales drop in almost four years.

Myer's half-year sales slide as stocktake sale disappoints

Myer's first-half sales have sagged by 0.6 per cent as a result of what the department store chain called "aggressive competition" and subdued stocktake sales.

I spent $3500 to get a $10 coupon. Thanks Coles

• COMMENT

So why are these supermarkets so keen on giving us something for nothing? They aren't.

'They're like the mafia' - Caltex battle gets ugly

The battle between Caltex and its franchisees is turning ugly with one prominent store owner accusing the oil giant of  victimising him for speaking out.