Consumer Electronics

The nation’s leading retail and restaurant chains came together to share ideas, discuss opportunities and find new solutions at Chain Store Age’s 47th annual SPECS conference, in Grapevine, Texas. Reflecting a renewed sense of optimism in the industry, overall attendance was up significantly, among retailers as well as exhibitors. All segments of the industry were in attendance, from discounters and specialty stores to supermarkets and home-improvement outlets to casual-dining restaurants.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. --Staples announced that it will be selling Barnes & Noble's Nook Color tablet e-reader, making it the first office superstore to offer the device. The Nook will be available at Staples stores nationwide and at Staples.com for $249, beginning May 1.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- As Walmart embarks on its campaign to be the low-price leader and broaden product assortment, the company said it plans to reduce space for electronics in its U.S. stores, saying that sales in that category have declined.

The company will reduce floor space devoted to items such as flat-screen televisions and give some of that space to apparel, according to Rosalind Brewer, who runs the Wal-Mart East division and addressed the ISI Group Retail Summit in Atlanta on Tuesday.

Washington, D.C. -- Retail sales increased 0.4% last month, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, buoyed by rising gasoline revenue. The gain in March, the ninth consecutive monthly increase, was the smallest since the string began last summer.

The increase shrank to a 0.1% when sales at gasoline stations were excluded. However, the biggest decline in auto sales in more than a year also pulled down overall sales. When taking out sales at gas station and of autos, retail sales rose 0.6%.

WASHINGTON – Retail sales increased 0.4% last month, the Commerce Department said Wednesday, buoyed by rising gasoline revenue. The gain in March, the ninth consecutive monthly increase, was the smallest since the string began last summer.

The increase shrank to a 0.1% when sales at gasoline stations were excluded. However, the biggest decline in auto sales in more than a year also pulled down overall sales. When taking out sales at gas station and of autos, retail sales rose 0.6%.