Budgets/Spending/Market Size

So far this holiday season, consumers are turning to their desktop PCs for shopping more than ever before.

So far this holiday season, consumers are turning to their desktop PCs for shopping more than ever before.

According to new data from comScore, through the first 36 days of the November-December 2015 holiday season (Nov. 1 – Dec. 6), desktop spend totaled $35.36 billion. This marks a 6% increase from $33.38 billion for the equivalent period in 2014. Although rate of year-over-year growth is below the 9% previously predicted by comScore, the total figure still sets a new record.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties announced that it has completed the sale of Mayfaire Community Center for $56.3 million to Principal Real Estate Investors.

Mayfaire Community Center is the 210,000-sq.-ft. center located in Wilmington, North Carolina, which CBL acquired in June of 2015. CBL will be providing leasing and management services for the new owners.

One well-known technology provider takes the top spot in installed worldwide revenue for both retail software and retail software-as-a-service (SaaS).

According to a new study from IHL Group, “Total Retail Software Market,” Microsoft is ranked number one in both categories. IHL estimates the total worldwide retail software market is currently worth $44 billion and will grow 48% in the next five years. Microsoft’s share of retail software is estimated at $5.98 billion in installed revenue.

The chief executives of H&M, Gap Inc. and five other apparel companies are urging world leaders to agree to a strong climate change deal because they fear global warming will drive up their costs by having a negative impact on cotton production, Reuters reported. [Reuters]

The nation’s largest supermarket operator has been on a tear since 2014, increasing its portfolio through acquisitions, reports The Cincinnati Enquirer. “We could get more deals by Kroger – and we should get more deals, more stores and more growth,” Scott Mushkin, an analyst with Wolfe Research in New York, said in the report. [The Cincinnati Enquirer]

Retailers are paying more and offering more incentives to secure experienced in-store help to increase sales

At least that’s according to a new survey by Korn Ferry Hay Group, a leading global hiring and organizational advisory firm.

Retailers are paying more and offering more incentives to secure experienced in-store help to increase sales.