Retail

Australian retailers hope March trading figures are just a "temporary blip" as they urge the Reserve Bank to slash interest rates even further.

Troubled surfwear retailer Billabong has extended its exclusive takeover talks with the Sycamore consortium.

Wesfarmers' supermarket chain Coles has lifted its quarterly sales by 6.4 per cent despite it having slashed prices for shoppers.

Australian grocery giant Woolworths is considering setting up shop overseas, but won't say where it's looking.

Dairy producer Devondale has signed a decade-long deal with Coles to supply the supermarket giant's home brand milk.

Troubled surfwear retailer Billabong appears closer to being taken over, but at a significantly lower price than previously offered.

Wesfarmers has parachuted in the head of operations at its Coles supermarkets chain, Stuart Machin, to run discount department store Target following the shock resignation of Dene Rogers.

Shares in troubled retailer Billabong have been suspended indefinitely so it can continue takeover talks with two potential suitors.

Billabong's shares have been placed in a trading halt as talks with two potential suitors drag on.

Fruit and vegie prices fell in March, but the savings were eaten up by increases in the cost of fuel, alcohol and tobacco.

Supermarket giant Woolworths has raised concerns in the dairy industry with a plan to deal directly with a group of farmers to secure milk supplies.

Cash Converters has obtained $60 million from Westpac Bank that the second hand dealer and short-term loan provider will use to grow its personal loan book.

Apple has blamed global music labels and movie studios for making it more expensive for Australians to download music, television shows and movies than people in the US.

Billabong shares have staged a partial recovery after the troubled retailer reassured investors it was still in takeover talks with two potential suitors.

Billabong shares have been placed in a trading halt while the retailer investigates why its shares have plummeted by more than 20 per cent.

Premier Investments, the retailer behind brands including Just Jeans and Portmans, has brushed off the retail gloom and lifted its first half profit by 21 per cent.

 Retailer David Jones' first half profit has fallen 14 per cent to $73.5 million due to fewer sales and spending to improve its business.

The twin villains of Australian businesses in recent years - the high dollar and increased household savings - have saved the economy from overheating and spared consumers from outsized price hikes

A bid to halve Sunday penalty rates for workers in the retail, fast food and hospitality industries has been rejected by the national workplace relations tribunal.

Consumer confidence in Western Australia is on the rise after hitting record lows in the December quarter, a survey shows.

Wesfarmers is raising million (.8 million) following the successful pricing of a bond issue in the United States.

Department store retailer Myer made a better-than-expected profit of $88 million in the first six months of its financial year.

Australian consumer sentiment has hit its highest level in more than two years but is yet to provide a boost to the economy.

Retail sales growth is expected to gain momentum over the next two years, thanks to improvements in the housing sector and better economic conditions.

Mark Bouris' TZ Limited has struck a deal to install lockers in petrol stations and convenience stores in a bid to capitalise on the online retailing boom.

Cash Converters International managing director Peter Cumins has today sold $2.57 million worth of shares in the company he and his brother Brian Cumins helped build.

Australian retailers recorded their strongest January sales growth in six years as increasingly confident consumers headed back to the shops.

Online sales growth accelerated in January after the pace slackened off in December, as post-Christmas discounts encouraged shoppers to reach for their credit cards.

Woolworths' first half profit has grown to $1.15 billion as earnings from its supermarkets rose by six per cent.

Australian shoppers may be ready to start splashing their cash again as solid savings rates and low inflation lifts consumer confidence, Westfield boss Peter Lowy says.

Shopping mall group Federation Centres is back in the black, six months after settling a major class action, and expects a supermarket price war to underpin growth.

Troubled surfwear retailer Billabong has posted a $537 million first half loss and downgraded its expectations for underlying earnings in the full year.