Retail

Although a bill that would single out big box retailers and fast food establishment workers for higher wages cleared a legislative committee in November, lawmakers are still mixed on moving the measure forward.

The five Macy's stores in Central Massachusetts, including those in Marlborough, Framingham and Natick, were saved from the chopping block as the Cincinnati-based retailer announced the closure of 36 stores nationwide.

Worcester-based convenience store chain Honey Farms Inc. has agreed to pay up to $25,000 to resolve allegations of discriminatory treatment of a Hispanic customer, according to Attorney General Maura Healey's office.

Worcester is showing many signs of being in the midst of an economic revival.

In the mid-2000s, Fitchburg City Hall, and the community itself, was a much different place than it is today.

The average price for a gallon of gasoline in Massachusetts recently hit a nearly seven year low.

Several experts pegged the likely growth of tax revenues in fiscal 2017 at less than 4 percent, citing drags on the economy from an aging workforce and relatively scarce housing combined with an expected further decrease in the income tax rate.

The Savers Thrift Store located in Webster Square has closed, leaving the Lincoln Square store as the only Worcester location of the Bellevue, WA company.

Natick retail service provider Aila Technologies announced Tuesday it received $4.5 million in financing from Boston-based Romulus Capital.

The developer of the 237-unit apartment complex in Worcester' City Square has secured a $41.5-million construction loan from Citizens Bank.