Are the days of cheap chocolate coming to an end?

Cocoa prices have soared amid signs of tighter supplies, raising prospects that chocolate costs will climb.

Retail spending rebounds sharply to $25.9b

• UPDATED

Australian retail spending rose 1 per cent in April, beating market expectations of a modest rise.

Ten new investigations - Fair Work expands investigation into Domino's Pizza

Domino's Pizza has announced delays to its nationwide review into wage fraud allegations across its stores.

Rich people don't want Ivanka Trump's fashion

After losing her most glamorous retail partners amid the controversies and boycotts that have marked her father's move into the White House, Ivanka Trump has gone downmarket. At its heart, Ivanka Trump is now a celebrity brand, not a designer fashion house. It's the messy discount rack, not the gleaming glass jewellery case.

Three charts that show how unhappy Aussie consumers are

• ANALYSIS

Sentiment has remained negative this year all the way through May for the first time since the depths of the GFC in 2009, leaving retailers reeling and investors bearish on the sector.

Red Rooster says it can do what Officeworks could not: find investors

Red Rooster says it can attract investors to its chicken-frying franchise business despite the market's poor appetite for share market listings and consumer stocks.

Cosmetics the new battleground for retailers

Lipstick wars are gaining momentum across the country, led by French-based cosmetic giant Sephora.

New Wesfarmers boss to earn millions less than predecessor

Conglomerate Wesfarmers will pay its new chief executive up to $4 million less than his predecessor, acknowledging "downward pressure" on CEO pay levels in the broader market.

Retail trade data won't help outlook

The severe pressure on retail stocks will ramp up again this week as retail sales come in the spotlight.

Amazon 'hype' over the top

Online retailer Amazon will be lucky to get 5 per cent market share in Australia over eight years, investor says.

Domino's to take full control of Japan pizza business

Domino's plans to almost double the number of its stores in Japan by 2022.

SurfStitch suspends shares to assess $100m class action

SurfStitch has asked for its shares to be suspended from trade after the troubled online sports retailer was hit by a shareholder class action of as much as $100 million.

Tarocash owner sold to South African giant

The owner of Tarocash, yd.,✓ Rockwear and other apparel chains will be sold to a South African retailer in a deal that values the Australian company at $302.5 million.

Topshop UK owner could save local arm

Australia's struggling retail sector has been battered in a day that saw major players suffer heavy share prices losses.

Too big, too expensive: Six reasons why Topshop flopped

• COMMENT

The Australian arm of the British fast-fashion giant entered voluntary administration on Wednesday. How did it go so wrong?

Fashion fail: Topshop Australia calls in administrators

High-profile fashion retailer has collapsed under debts and entered voluntary administration.

SurfStitch shares halted on $100m class action

SurfStitch has entered a trading halt while the online surf apparel retailer assesses a $100 million class action launched by aggrieved shareholders.

Australians targeted by Amazon spam scam

The world's biggest online retailer joins well-known retailers Coles, Woolworths, ALDI, IGA, Bunnings and Myer in having its reputation misused by scammers.

Herringbone administrators hold fire sale

The administrator of Herringbone and Rhodes & Beckett will slash the prices of current stock in a bid to save the brands in Australia.

Zara commits to Australia as sales jump

Three new stores help the Spanish fast-fashion chain generate $256 million in Australian revenue.

SurfStitch faces $100m class action over share wipeout

• UPDATED

Online fashion retailer SurfStitch is facing a $100 million class action launched on behalf of shareholders whose investments have been wiped out by the troubled company's plunging share price.

SurfStitch shares dive as it warns losses to deepen

• UPDATED

SurfStitch will run at least $5 million further into the red this year and will close its North American operations, the troubled fashion retailer has said.

Lidl hedges bets for 'concentrated' Oz market

One of the world's biggest retailers continues to register trademarks in Australia, despite insisting it has no plans to set up here.

Can British Bunnings save the Wesfarmers renovation?

"If I had the money I would buy one," local man Dave says while taking his dog for its daily walk past the store.

The fizzy drink that has soft drink giants scrambling

The fizzy fermented drink loved by sugar-free devotees is on the radar of soft drink giants Coca-Cola Amatil and PepsiCo.

We are visiting shopping centres less and less

The number of shoppers at shopping centres, high street and discount shopping centres has fallen 4.4 per cent this year, compared with 2016, according to figures tracking people entering and exiting stores.

Skewered Officeworks sale raises wider Wesfarmers questions

• COMMENT

The imminent arrival of Amazon has skewered Wesfarmers' ability to do what it does best – horse trading assets.

Wesfarmers must face up to retail reality

Wesfarmers must balance its ambitions to reap $1.5 billion from the sale of the Officeworks chain with the reality.

Oroton shares dive after forecast of $10m earnings plunge

Luxury handbag and fashion retailer Oroton Group has warned it expects its full-year earnings will slump by more than 75 per cent, sending the company's share price plunging.