It could be a glum holiday season for retailers because shoppers are expected to keep a lid on how much they spend, the National Retail Federation predicts. This week, the industry group said it forecasts holiday spending to grow by just 2.2 percent this year over last year to a total of $470.4 billion. While still an increase, the growth rate would be well below the recent average of 4.4 percent annual holiday spending growth. ...more

September 24, 2008

Where in Pasco County can a person buy quality computer equipment for as low as $1 while also benefiting a good cause? ...more

July 10, 2008

Residents in once-sleepy Thomasville have started complaining about traffic jams on Route 43, which runs through town. ...more

July 10, 2008

BRANDON - At 6 a.m. sharp the doors fly open at Goodwill's annual wedding gala, but savvy brides-to-be arrived about 4 a.m. ...more

June 27, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - In the war against neighborhood blight, abandoned shopping carts have been a nuisance the Town 'N Country community has been fighting for more than a decade. ...more

June 18, 2008

TAMPA - Deputies charged a Valrico man with felony child neglect after shoppers at a Brandon Wal-Mart discovered the man's 5-year-old son unattended inside a locked vehicle, an affidavit states. ...more

June 11, 2008

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores of Citrus Park will unveil a new look Thursday as the 46,018-square-foot store reopens with a three-day celebration. ...more

June 11, 2008

SEBRING — With shoppers usually waiting outside for the doors to open, the Habitat for Humanity Home Supply store is easily the busiest place in downtown Sebring. Although many Habitat for Humanity affiliates have similar stores selling furniture and building materials, most are not as popular or profitable as the one on 137 S. Commerce Ave. "We have one of the most successful home supply stores in the nation," said Jane Breylinger, executive director of Highlands County Habitat for Humanity. Store Manager Chuck Ball said the store had more than $600,000 of sales last year. That's enough not only to cover the administration costs of the nonprofit organization but also to build two houses every year. ...more

February 23, 2008

Apple cut the price of the least-expensive iPod, the Shuffle, to $49 after its media players sales slowed last quarter. Price for the 1-gigabyte model is 38 percent less than the previous $79. A new version with double the storage will be $69, Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple said Tuesday. ...more

February 20, 2008

Sunday will probably be the busiest day with the stores opening at their usual times with a lot of "Johnny-Come-Latelys" looking for that last minute gift. Wednesday, the day after Christmas, will find many returns and exchanges and everyone looking for the after-Christmas price reductions. ...more

December 20, 2007