• Holiday shoppers would be able to purchase electronics and toys for the yearend through installment at all Wal-Mart stores across the U.S. The world's largest retailer announced the return of the layaway plan to boost its holiday sales amid the economic slump

  • Retailer stocks closed higher after a Supreme Court ruling that spared Walmart from a class action lawsuit by its 1.6 million female employees

  • Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer fared well early in the recession as consumers became more budget-conscious. However, nagging U.S. unemployment and some uncharacteristic mistakes in merchandising have since slowed it down. Indicative of its struggles have been several key executive departures. International growth is critical for Wal-Mart

  • Hundreds of Wal-Mart employees have already enrolled in online classes at American Public University via the retail giant's recently announced partnership with the online university. According to online education experts, the partnership could signal the onset of a trend