AP - For U.S. retailers, the phrase "challenging environment" has become a shared refrain for one of the toughest quarters in decades. And merchants expect the climate to remain rough for the rest of the year as higher gas and food costs as well as slumping home prices weigh on shoppers.

AP - The Home Depot Inc. doesn't know if stimulus checks making their way to potential customers are enough to improve its fortunes this year, the company said Tuesday as it reported a 66 percent drop in first-quarter profit.

AP - Strong sales of delivered office products to corporate customers at home and overseas helped Staples Inc. post a 1.5 percent increase in its first-quarter profit, and rebound modestly from small profit declines the previous two quarters.

AP - Hewlett-Packard Co. cashed in on rising international demand again in its second quarter, but that performance may not be enough to ease worries about the company's exposure to the ailing U.S. economy as it prepares to digest the second largest acquisition in its 69-year history.

AP - BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. reported a nearly 26 percent increase in its first-quarter profit and raised earnings expectations for the full year, reaping the benefits of a tough economy that's increasingly sending shoppers to discounters in search of deals.

Reuters - Retailer Lowe's Cos Inc reported an 18 percent drop in first-quarter profit on Monday as the slumping U.S. housing market and soft economy hurt sales, and it cut its full-year profit forecast, sending its shares lower.

Reuters - Campbell Soup Co posted lower quarterly operating earnings on Monday as U.S. soup sales fell and commodity costs rose, but net income jumped due to the sale of its Godiva chocolate business.

Reuters - Retailer Home Depot Inc reported a lower quarterly profit on Tuesday as the U.S. housing meltdown hurt sales and it took charges tied to store closures and a new-store pullback.