21.   R.H. Macy will close the venerable I. Magnin specialty chain ahead of its merger with Federated Department stores.

22.   Shedding Builders Square would finally rid Kmart of all its specialty chains.

23.   Specialty apparel chains and regional discounters continued their yearlong spiral as they lose customers to large discount and department stores.

24.   Specialty chains carrying brand-name merchandise, such as Gap Inc. and Gymboree, did well, but department stores sales fell short of expectations.

25.   Some specialty apparel chains such as Gap Inc. will have good earnings increases, analysts said, while profits at consumer electronics retailers run into more static.

26.   Specialty apparel chains and regional discounters continued to see declining sales as bigger chains snare their customers.

27.   Specialty chains whose forte is a style statement for consumers did well this month.

28.   Specialty apparel chains and regional discounters continued to see declining sales.

29.   Specialty chains such as Gap, Ann Taylor and Talbots saw their sales slide continue into December and reported negative same-store results.

30.   Specialty clothing chains fared much better than they did at the same time last year, when sales fell.