Content about Uptick rule

New York -- While it may be days, even weeks, before the full extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy is known, economists are forecasting that retail sales will be impacted in October and November but that the economy overall will experience an uptick.

Washington, D.C. -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 1.6% in July compared with the same month last year, and modest year-over-year increases are expected through the holiday season shipping cycle, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

New York -- Importers who sell to America’s major retailers are preparing for a significant uptick in consumer spending this spring and summer according to a recent survey conducted by Capital Business Credit, (CBC), a non-bank lender that services the retail sector.

Chicago -- According to a BDO USA survey of 100 CMOs at leading U.S. retailers, just 27% expect to see an increase in Black Friday sales, down from 38% in 2010.

Similarly, only 24% project an increase in Cyber Monday sales, with the vast majority (74%) expecting flat sales. Overall, CMOs project a 1.6% increase in Black Friday sales (down from 3.8% in 2010) and a 2.5% increase in Cyber Monday sales.

Philadelphia -- According to a survey released Tuesday by global management consultancy Hay Group, 68% of retailers expect holiday sales to increase this year. However, hiring plans remain conservative, with 67% of retailers hiring at the same level as last year and 25% hiring fewer seasonal workers.

In his newest column, Retail Rap with Jeff Green, Chain Store Age columnist Green examines the early uptick in medical users in retail centers and questions why the trend has apparently stalled.

Click here to read Green's column.

Back in late 2009-early 2010, I started seeing an uptick in medical users setting up shop in retail centers. I thought, “This is going to be a trend!” I was convinced we’d be seeing more and more outpatient and urgent care facilities moving in next to the Rite Aids and Ann Taylor Lofts of the world. For some reason, though, this “trend” is not evolving. And, to be honest, that’s a little more than surprising to me; it’s puzzling!

A report released Wednesday by MasterCard Advisors found that, in August, sales in most categories recorded a slight year-over-year uptick compared to the year-over-year performance of July.

According to the SpendingPulse report -- based on aggregate sales activity in the MasterCard payments network, coupled with survey-based estimates for all other payment forms, including cash and check -- some categories were boosted by back-to-school spending.