The Institute has gotten word that Walmart leadership is re-introducing "volume opportunities" back into the stores. One source told us that in the past few weeks, there have been no fewer than three versions/revisions of the New Product Display guidelines. Another said that the display process is now being lead by merchandising and that marketing is being relegated to the "event" area.

An Acxiom study based on survey data from BIGresearch found that two-thirds of respondents intend to spend at least the same or more on apparel in the next 90 days, an indicator that consumer spending may be improving.