“Global retail sales are expected to slow this year as China and the rest of the BRICs [Brazil, Russia, India, and China] face tightening monetary policy and weaker demand abroad,” Rob Wile of Business Insider writes. Well, that’s the takeaway from Deloitte’s annual ranking of the top 250 retail chains by sales at least. While figures in 2011 saw some decent gains — U.S. sales grew 7.7 percent — Deloitte sees the world economy decelerating in 2012, according to Wile. “Retailers targeting upscale consumers could see a more favorable environment,” Wile writes, “But the average consumer remains on uncertain financial footing and will seek out lower costs, the report states.” The most successful retailers are a mixture of superstores, grocers, drug stores and wholesale providers. The leaders are U.S. firms, but Germany makes a fine showing. Here are the 15 top retailers as compiled by Business Insider : See the Top Three Retailers at Business Insider.
Read more from the original source:
These Are the 15 Most Prosperous Retailers in the World
Donald Trump officially endorsed Mitt Romney for president, quelling conflicting media reports about which candidate the business mogul would back: Romney or former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Standing beside the former Massachusetts governor at his luxury Las Vegas hotel Thursday, Trump called it his “honor and privilege to endorse Mitt Romney.” “Mitt is tough, he’s smart, he’s sharp. He’s not going to allow bad things to continue to happen to this country that we love,” Trump said. Earlier in the day, Trump had said it was Romney’s performance during the GOP debates and his tough stance on China that won him over, the Associated Press reported. “Governor Romney? Go out and get ‘em. You can do it,” Trump said. Taking the podium following Trump’s announcement, Romney said, “There are some things that you just can’t imagine happening in your life. This is one of them.” “Being in Donald Trump’s magnificent hotel and having his endorsement is a delight,” he said. “And of course I’m looking forward to the endorsement of the people of Nevada.” In an interview on Fox News Channel immediately following the announcement, Trump told host Neil Cavuto Romney has “really stepped up” on the issues during the campaign. Asked whether his endorsement means there is officially no chance of Trump seeking his own presidential bid, Trump said it depends on whether Romney gets the GOP presidential nomination. Trump has repeatedly toyed with the idea of seeking the presidency himself as a third-party candidate. “If for some reason something happens [and Romney doesn't get the nomination] then it’s open season,” he said. “[But] I don’t see that happening.” This post has been updated since it was first published.

See the rest here:
Donald Trump Officially Endorses Mitt Romney for President
On the front page, Editor-in-Chief of THE BLAZE Scott Baker has a post about a new book : “A Nation of Moochers.” The book takes a look at mooching in America in the macro sense. But I took a look at mooching in the micro sense, meaning a few of our writers here. FireWire editor Mike Opelka told me that he’s a “recovering moocher” but added, “I give, too.” (P.S- Opelka had a lot more to say on this, which I’ll be writing in a follow-up post). “Moocher: no. Smoocher: yes,” BLAZE magazine editor Chris Field said. “I come from a small farming community where everybody works from the time they’re kids.” The Newt Gingrich American dream. I asked our business editor Becket Adams for an example of how he mooches. He said he catches the draft of semi trucks to “save on gas.” I asked if that was the only thing he did. “That’s not strictly illegal, that I’ll admit in public? Yes,” he said. Chris Santarelli , an assistant editor, is one of those people who refuses to buy their own french fries and instead nibbles on the ones his friends order. “I never buy fries, say I don’t like them, but always ask for one from a friend,” he told me. The worst. Buck Sexton , who writes on the front page, dismissed the idea of him mooching altogether. “I’m a WASP. We hate mooching,” he said. As for me, I work in media living in D.C. Events around the city are typically free for journalists, often with open-bars and free dinners. Hors d’oeuvrs, at the least. Mooching is almost forced on me.

See the rest here:
Santarelli mooches on friend fries


