You need a translator -- or a soothsayer -- to read the economic tea leaves these days. Signs pointing to a slow economic recovery one day are...

Workers with the day off on Friday expected to mob stores in last-minute gift grabNEW YORK (AP) — Holiday procrastinators are preparing to zoom through picked-over stores, grabbing discounted sweaters and can't-go-wrong gift cards. If they can get a parking spot, that ...

Shoppers looking for the hot dolls like Lalaloopsy and Monster High find bare shelvesParents may have noticed there's no new version of Tickle Me Elmo this year, but that doesn't mean popular dolls are lacking this holiday season. In fact ...

Gerrick Johnson figures the best way to handicap the toy business is to see firsthand what's selling--and what...

Summary Box: As holidays near, cute and collectible reign among toysTOY SEASON: The holiday season is crucial for toy makers, which can make up to half of their annual revenue during the fourth quarter.CUTE AND COLLECTIBLE: Blip Toys' Squinkies, tiny figures ...

As holidays near, cute and collectible reign among toys; can they duplicate Zhu Zhu success?NEW YORK — It's getting crowded in the race to succeed Zhu Zhu Pets as the next hot holiday toy.From plush dolls that harmonize to tiny ...

Mattel 4Q profit rises, helped by holidays, cost-cutting; Barbie, Hot Wheels show strength Barbie proves there is life after 50, especially if you're willing to keep reinventing yourself.Sales of Mattel Inc.'s fashion icon, which celebrated five decades last year ...

Jakks Pacific shares fall after BMO downgrades on weak sales, excess inventoryShares of Jakks Pacific Inc. fell Monday after a BMO Capital Markets analyst downgraded the stock due to weak sales and excess inventory.BMO Capital Markets Gerrick Johnson downgraded Jakks to ...

But unlike past "It" toys made by large manufacturers like Mattel's Tickle Me Elmo and Tiger Electronic's Furby, Zhu Zhu Pets are made by tiny Cepia Inc. of St. Louis, with just 16 employees in the U.S. and 30 ...

Toy retailers vie for parents' dollars with low prices, innovation as holiday season nearsSanta's on a budget this year.Toy retailers and makers plan to make the best of it by offering more deals and cut-price versions of more expensive toys ...