US shoppers in the mood to spend
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An article from Associated Press reports that many traditional retail chains such as Home Depot, Kohl's, Best Buy and Target have posted strong sales in the US, both online and in stores. The piece suggests that four trends are driving the retail revival: a strong economy with unemployment at an 18-year low and average hourly wages up 2.7%, store experience enhancements including delivery, curve side pickups and self-checkouts, revamped websites targeted at competing with Amazon, and alluring private label brands. The news is a welcome reprieve from the media's hyperbole talk of the retail apocalypse for brick and mortar stores.