Calumet City Sears store slated for June closure

CALUMET CITY | The nearly 50-year-old Sears store in Calumet City's River Oaks Center is closing in early June, the company confirmed Friday.

Luke Oil planning expansion in region

HOBART | Luke Oil will be expanding its scope in Northwest Indiana with the addition of at least six new retail convenience stores in 2013, the company announced this week.

Retailers group wants to improve gasoline sales tax flow

The lobbying group for Indiana's gasoline station operators is pushing legislation that would close a long-time loophole in the way sales taxes on gasoline are collected.

St. John marketing town's many assets

Over the past decade, St. John has experienced rapid population growth as the community has nearly doubled in size. St. John has made significant investments in infrastructure to accommodate this growth and position the town as an ideal location for expanding commercial and retail operations.

Conversion of Wiseway, PayLow to Stracks, Ultra stores nearly complete

The changes in signage are nearly complete and by next week most Wiseway and PayLow grocery stores will be transformed into Strack & Van Til and UltraFoods markets.

FUEL: Gas prices press consumers

Record high average gasoline prices nationally in 2012 following on record prices the year before have big implications for retailers and the U.S. economy.

RETAIL: See-saw sales patterns define 2012

Retail performance during the 2012 holiday shopping season was largely disappointing because of expectations formed based on sales early in the year, Joshua Halpern said.

THE TIMES BOARD OF ECONOMISTS: No economic tonic for uncertainty

Northwest Indiana business executives are seeing the signs of a sustained -- yet slow -- economic recovery in the region this year. But the 22-member Times Board of Economists is split on how quickly challenges such as elevated unemployment will be resolved.

Valpo shopping center acquired in $22M deal

VALPARAISO | Inland Real Estate Corp. announced Thursday it has acquired Valparaiso Walk for about $21.9 million from IBT Group LLC.

Will retailers rebound after weak holiday season?

WASHINGTON | As signs emerge that holiday sales this year grew at the weakest pace since 2008, investors are dumping retail stocks. Analysts are crowing about the missing "consumer engine" without which the economy may stagnate.

Subdued mood on the last holiday shopping weekend

ATLANTA | Christmas shoppers thronged malls and pounced on discounts but apparently spent less this year, their spirits dampened by concerns about the economy and the aftermath of shootings and storms.

Many region residents must work on Christmas

Family gatherings, shared meals, church services and a day off from work highlight many Christmas Day celebrations. But for many, it's simply another day on the job.

ND, IU success leads to increased merchandise, apparel sales

Notre Dame football’s No. 1 ranking is likely to boost its team apparel and merchandise sales well into its championship game appearance Jan. 7.

Grafted veggies are next season's celebrity seeds

In many of the seed catalogs arriving soon in mailboxes, the headliners will be grafted vegetables, in which one or more different varieties grow from a single rootstock. Tomatoes seem to be the grafted transplants most frequently offered, providing greater disease tolerance, bigger harvests…