Post-Christmas period brings home profits for big retailers

CONSUMERS sought out the post-Christmas sales, which helped boost retail spending in January, and while retail landlords are hoping it will continue, they are only too aware of the fickle nature of shoppers.

Cowdery forced to use holiday leave for work trip

THE NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicholas Cowdery, QC, will defy the Government and take unpaid leave to attend a conference in Taipei next week after the Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos, refused his application for three days of leave.

We'll always have Paris

You've seen the ads: Paris, economy, $1385 return. With the airfare a steal, you can't help but say oui. But will the trip turn out to be a bargain? By Jayne D'Arcy.

Move Aside - Bargains Are In My Genes

Only five more sleeps until doors open on the real Boxing Day test, writes Jacqui Bunting.

Hold On During Sharemarket Big Dipper

I've been trekking in the Himalayas. Don't worry, this isn't a travel tale but it does explain why I'm feeling like Alice through the looking glass. When we left, things weren't looking too hot. Markets were in a tizz over the collapse of more US investment banks and the realisation was hitting home hard that a global recession was inevitable.

Cheaper By The Dozens, Super-size Retailer Moves In

There are bargains aplenty for clever shoppers at US retail giant Costco, but will Australians take to buying groceries in bulk and the ethos that bigger is better?