Retail

With just about three weeks until August and the anticipated summer recess, the clock is ticking on...

Consumers were unexpectedly cautious in June, according to data released by the federal government Tuesday.

Mindful of the lack of action on sales tax holiday legislation, Massachusetts retailers on Tuesday called for a tax-free weekend on Aug. 15-16, which they argue would help retailers capture some business that is flowing to sales-tax-free New Hampshire or occurring online in an often tax-free environment.

Equestrian products retailer Dover Saddlery of Littleton has merged with a company formed by Webster Capital, a private equity firm in Waltham.

The parent companies of Hannaford Supermarkets and Stop & Shop have reached a merger agreement, the companies said Wednesday.

Shareholders of Office Depot on Friday overwhelmingly approved Staples' bid to buy its chief rival in the retail office supplies market, clearing the way for final regulatory approvals of the $6.3-billion deal.

The DCU Center retail space on Commercial Street formerly used as the pro shop of the Worcester Sharks will soon house Worcester Wares, a sell of “all things Worcester,” according to the DCU Center.

Staples has cleared another foreign regulatory hurdle for its intended acquisition of Office Depot, securing approval from the Chinese government, the Framingham-based office supplies retailer said Friday.

The TJX Cos. of Framingham will pay out a quarterly stock dividend of 21 cents per share, the parent company of off-price retailers T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls announced Friday.

Armed with $3.9 million in local and state incentives for real estate expansion, The Potpourri Group Inc. (PGI), a multi-channel catalog company, has kicked off a 450,000-square foot expansion project in Littleton, where it will relocate its call center and consolidate shipping operations.