1.   One sign of sluggish growth came during the holidays, as retailers reported the smallest sales gains in a quarter century.

2.   Only specialist food, furniture and carpet retailers reported a Decline in sales from a year earlier.

3.   Retailers are reporting their November sales figures today.

4.   Although many electronics retailers are reporting lagging sales this year, analysts said Apple picked the right time to enter the market.

5.   Although retailers report they had a good holiday shopping season, the party may be over.

6.   Also today, retailers reported mixed sales in January at stores open at least a year.

7.   Also today, U.S. retailers reported that sales rose in February as clearance sales of winter merchandise attracted buyers early in the month, offsetting a later drop.

8.   American retailers Thursday reported their weakest monthly sales so far this year.

9.   American retailers reported their best monthly sales gains in four years Thursday, capping one of the healthiest quarters of retail sales in almost a decade.

10.   American retailers reported their June sales Thursday, and the results were reliably perplexing.