Retail sales increased a healthy 4.2% in January. Usually, post-Christmas shopping fatigues but Americans didn’t stay away from the malls last month. Retailers are excited and have confirmed that Americans are spending more money in the retail market. Retail business is slowly climbing. After a solid holiday season and with consumer spending appearing to stabilize, economists and retail watchers are hoping the momentum carries on to other sectors. Not all the news in business is good, retailers are worried about the higher cost of cotton, and increased labor and transportation prices could hinder retail business in the coming months.

Retail sales might have gained momentum in January as promotions enticed U.S. Shoppers. Retailers such as Gap topped the charts for January sales, making it clear that household spending will keep growing. Retail sales might have climbed due to post holiday specials. Retail businesses are learning from these special promotions as a way of improving retailing. Retail jobs may also ride as retail gains ground. Sales at stores at 30 chains tracked by Retail Metrics climbed 4.4 percent in January. Could this be a sign that U.S economy is showing a strong back from the plague of the economic downfall? Maybe.

Dunkin’ Donuts leads retail expansion in New York. Even during a recession, Dunkin’ Donuts has maintained its retail sales. Many competing mom and pop donut shops have gone out of business but Dunkin’ which is considered American’s favorite, since 1950 is booming. Retail businesses can’t ignore the success of this franchise. With medium sized coffee priced at $2-almost half of what Starbucks charges Dunkin’ broadcast value. Which is critical in these hard economic times. Retail jobs and retail sales for Dunkin’ are expected to rise as they continue to expand.

Retail gas prices continue to climb despite supply glut and reduced Middle East tensions. Retail gas prices continue to rise everywhere in the U.S. In spit of declining oil prices, mounting optimism about Middle East issues, and U.S fuel supplies have not been so good in 17 years. California price per gallon raised another 0.9 cents overnight to $3.426, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Gas prices are raping Americans. Americans are wondering why prices are soaring at the pump when U.S Supply has not been so prevalent since 1993. High gas prices affect retail sales, retail jobs, and retail business and just about anything you can think of, for that matter.

Transformers characters and the Ken dolls are just a few of the toy retail sells that are expected to rise in 2011. Retail jobs are looking bright as 2011 promises retail business a surge in sales. U.S toy retail sales rose 2 percent in 2010 after declines in 2009 and 2008, with sales in the recent holiday quarter up 3 percent. Retail business in the toy market is looking bright according to Carter Keithley, president of the Toy Industry Association. Many toy makers are excited about their retail sales in 2011 and hope to put the lackluster sales of the past behind them.