The road to the continent's high fashion boutiques often leads through little-known towns in the Balkans, but you wouldn't know it from reading the labels.

Consumers probably cut back on spending last month after splashing out at the shops over Easter, official data is expected to show on Thursday 18 June.

Online retailers are starting to feel the impact of the recession, even if their growth rates might still be the envy of the country's shopping streets, a survey showed on Thursday 18 June.

Children's Place Retail Stores' board of directors urged shareholders to vote against a slate of board nominees put up by former Chief Executive Ezra Dabah.

After having acquired The Art of Shaving on the 3rd of June, P&G has announced the takeover of New York brand Zirh. This is a further strengthening on the part of the group aimed at men and reveals the extent to which they are banking on developing the men’s products market.

The German retail and tourism group Arcandor, which declared insolvency last week, said Wednesday 17 June that 15 subsidiaries employing 6,700 people were also unable to meet their payments.

Teen-clothing retailer Pacific Sunwear of California Inc said its Chief Executive and Chairman Sally Frame Kasaks will step down effective June 29 but will stay on its board.

Quelle, the mail-order business of bankrupt retailer Arcandor, needs financing of about 50 million euros ($69.47 million) to keep going, sources with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday 16 June.

Discount apparel retailer Syms Corp said it expects to close its purchase of bankrupt retailer Filene's Basement Inc. as early as Thursday 18 June. Approval of the sale is subject to a hearing set for 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday 17 June.

British department stores group House of Fraser denied on Tuesday 16 June it was considering selling any of its stores and said it was trading ahead of its expectations, with sales growth in the last 12 weeks.

Retail stocks fell on Tuesday 16 June after a report showed that shoppers went back to spending cautiously as gasoline prices inched up across the United States, resulting in weak retail sales.

Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, met forecasts with a 9.7 percent rise in first-quarter sales, led by a strong performance in its international businesses and a pick up in sales growth at home.

Private equity-owned Spanish retailer Cortefiel will close its men's suits shops Milano after the summer sales to focus on larger, more profitable brands.

British out-of-town fashion and homewares retailer Matalan reported a 6.3 percent rise in core annual earnings on Monday 15 June and said it had made a strong start to its new financial year.

It is a little bit early to tag a must-give gift for the 2009 holiday season, but one thing seems clear in the recession: Cheap, or at least cheaper, will be chic.