The U.S. economy counts on you to borrow money and stay in debt for a credit score. But what if you were taught to never owe anybody anything?

Each swipe of a credit card is a small loan. But what if you were taught to never be in debt? For immigrants, America's reliance on credit scores often means a jarring and oddly complicated journey.

Each swipe of a credit card is a small loan. But what if you were taught to never be in debt? For immigrants, America's reliance on credit scores often means a jarring and oddly complicated journey.

The retailer Bed Bath and Beyond is going out of business. The chain once dominated the home goods market. But it's become rudderless, turbulent and broke.

The retailer once triumphed over rivals as a "category killer" with its blue coupons. Now, it's become rudderless, turbulent and broke. Here's what happened.

The retailer, which also owns the BuyBuy Baby chain, has lost shoppers and money after a series of ineffective or mistimed turnarounds. It plans to close stores.

David's Bridal has filed for bankruptcy, its second in five years. The chain is also laying off 9,236 workers, though it says stores for now remain open and plan to keep brides' orders on schedule.

A share of Bed Bath & Beyond now costs 31 cents, down from $5 earlier this year and $80 a decade ago as the company circles around bankruptcy. How low can this stock — or any stock — actually go?

A share of Bed Bath & Beyond now costs 31 cents, down from $5 earlier this year and $80 a decade ago as the company circles around bankruptcy. How low can this stock — or any stock — actually go?

A hearing for the history books: The resolutely anti-union architect of the modern Starbucks faces the outspoken champion of the union movement in Congress.

There are possible consequences for regular people, small businesses and the economy.

Retail sales dipped 0.4% in February after a surprise start-of-the-year surge that appeared at odds with the Federal Reserve's goal of cooling down the economy.

After years on the brink, the bookseller is going for a plot twist: Sales are growing and the chain plans to open some 30 new stores. Here's what's changed.

Americans are spending money and shopping a lot. But according to recent retail reports, big chain stores are worried about the year to come. They say there's still a lot of uncertainty ahead.

Retailers have dropped a flurry of financial reports. They paint a messy and conflicting picture about our consumer economy.

After years on the brink, Barnes & Noble is going for a plot twist: The book chain is staging its biggest expansion in over a decade.

The biggest culprit was Amazon hefty investment in the electric automaker Rivian, whose value plummeted last year. Amazon also contends with the need to recalibrate after a pandemic-era upsurge.

NPR has been tracking prices at a Walmart in Georgia for four years. The latest shopping trip tells us a lot about what's been happening in world trade and the U.S. economy.

Inside our shopping cart is a story of global trade, extreme weather, shrinking packages and rising prices.

Party City has filed for bankruptcy, but is not going out of business. The purveyor of balloons, costumes and party supplies is hoping this will let it shed its heavy debt.