Consumer Affairs & Relations

CUPERTINO, California — Steve Jobs, the man behind one of the most influential technology companies, passed away Wednesday.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away [Wednesday]," Apple's board of directors announced in a statement. "Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve."

New York City -- Saks Fifth Avenue will close its store in downtown Pittsburgh in 2012, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. The news follows negotiations between the retailer, the store’s landlord and city officials over funding for renovations to the building.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco membership seems to defy current consumer trends as the warehouse club announced Wednesday that it would raise its annual membership fees at the same time reporting increases in fourth quarter sales and earnings.

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) applauded House Education and the Workforce Chairman Jon Kline for the introduction of the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act and urged for its speedy passage.

The legislation comes in response to efforts by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to impose several components of the job-killing Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), a priority of organized labor that failed to gain support in Congress.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — OfficeMax announced that, together with its retail customers, it has donated more than $1.7 million in classroom supplies to teachers nationwide through OfficeMax's annual A Day Made Better classroom surprise events, which help provide economic relief and encourage national support for teachers.

Wednesday marked the fifth year of the A Day Made Better program, in which OfficeMax associates surprise 1,000 teachers in their classrooms with $1,000 each worth of school supplies – $1 million in sum.

Raleigh, N.C. -- Economic weakness and low consumer confidence, combined with vendor capacity/reliability, are the top threats to business success this peak season, according to a recent Peak Season Trends and Strategies Survey Report by Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium.

NEW YORK — Global information services company Nielsen announced the passing of one of its former executives.

Arthur C. "Art" Nielsen, Jr., 92, helped Nielsen create such innovations as consumer and performance surveys, market share, department and food index and television ratings, during his tenure as chairman and president. Nielsen's father, Arthur C. Nielsen, founded the company in 1923. Nielsen, Jr., joined the company in 1945 and retired in 1983, according to the New York Times.

Washington, D.C. -- A new survey released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation found that nearly all retailers rely on background checks to keep their customers, and themselves, safe.

The survey, completed by retail executives from 96 of the nation’s leading department stores, mass merchants, discounters, drug stores, grocery stores and restaurants, examined retailers’ use of background screenings during the application and employment process.