Consumers gave some of the nation's retailers a little relief in April following months of dismal sales, but business was helped along by heavy discounting that could hurt first-quarter earnings.
Early sales reports issued Thursday showed that shoppers _ who are contending with rising gas prices, sagging home and worries about their jobs _ bought the basics at discounters and wholesale clubs. That made Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Costco Wholesale Corp. among the top performers last month, while most mall-based apparel stores, whose merchandise falls into the category of discretionary items, struggled.
"Consumers are focusing on value and price points and …
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