By Ian Sherr

CHICAGO, July 31 (Reuters) – The sale price for bankrupt Hartmarx, the men’s clothing company from which President Obama gets his suits, has risen to about $130 million, Chief Executive Homi Patel said in an interview, adding that he would step down as CEO on Friday.

Patel declined to say why the price had risen from $119 million, the price listed in court documents filed last month.

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By Ian Sherr

CHICAGO (Reuters) – ANALYSIS – When the U.S. housing market was booming earlier this decade, lumber prices were too. When the housing market went into a slump so, too, did lumber.

Now, with nascent signs of a housing recovery, it’s natural to assume lumber prices will follow suit.

But experts say that it may be years before lumber recovers in any substantive way, thanks mostly to conservative production mixed with unpredictable demand.

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By Ian Sherr

The popular social networking website has a new champion among its brands: Starbucks.

With a combination of recent social networking promotions and front-page ads, the Seattle-based mega coffee company has attracted more than 3.6 million fans to reportedly passed Coca-Cola to become the most popular brand on Facebook.

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By Ian Sherr

CHICAGO (Reuters) – With only 160 shopping days left, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in some stores.

After U.S. retailers posted 10 straight months of sales declines, some chains are trying to bring holiday spirit — and revenue — to the summer with “Christmas in July” promotions.

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By Ian Sherr

Santa’s not getting any rest this year.

After U.S. retailers posted the longest running decline in same-store sales in nearly a decade, Sears, Kmart and Toys R Us announced Christmas-themed sales for the month of July. While actual sale dates and locations vary among the three chains, the event has drawn a lot of attention from news media, which had the once-in-a-year joy of headlining a story with “Christmas in July.”

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By Ian Sherr

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Walking the pharmacy aisle of a Target Corp discount store, shoppers can’t miss the many anti-shoplifting measures: locked display cases, alarm cords around boxes of expensive merchandise, display hangers with locks on the end.

Those represent only a fraction of the anti-theft advances created over the years to protect stores against shoplifters and organized retail theft gangs.

But what about the determined insider?

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By Ian Sherr

CHICAGO, July 9 (Reuters) – U.S. retailer Sears is hoping not only to fulfill every child’s dream of Christmas in July, but also its coffers.

With only 168 days left before the holiday, Sears Holdings Corp’s Sears department stores have put out winter merchandise, trying to get customers to do their holiday shopping early.

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By Ian Sherr CHICAGO (Reuters) – The United States Olympic Committee will launch a cable television network devoted to Olympic and Paralympic Games next year, with Comcast Corp agreeing to carry the channel in its cable lineup. (more…)