TOKYO — Consumers in Japan are keeping their wallets firmly closed after the first sales tax rise in 17 years, with luxury items and appliances suffering as one major department store reported a 25% drop in sales. The precipitous plunge comes after …

Annual shareholder meetings can be bone dry, but not so at LVMH. Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault gave a frank — and sometimes funny — talk in Paris on Thursday morning. So instead of twiddling my thumbs this afternoon, I decided to watch the …

Q: What are consumers truly obtaining when they purchase designer labeled, luxury products? A: That is the main question. In my opinion they are buying something they lack in themselves. But where is the line drawn and where does that preoccupation …

The organic market has long been a luxury niche in the grocery business. In return for products that are perceived as being healthier and better for the environment, consumers pay more. Wal-Mart thinks it has found a way to eliminate that premium.

The event features premium wines, gourmet small plates, desserts, luxury item auction and live music. Auction items include a Mammoth Mountain getaway, jewelry, wine tasting vouchers, gift certificates to top restaurants and salons in the area and more.

PARIS—LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA said Wednesday first-quarter sales rose 4% as the group, a bellwether for the luxury–goods industry, struggles to adapt to a slowdown in China. Revenue in the first three months of the year grew to €7.21 …

“A luxury vehicle has to at least feature items that add to the overall experience as well as convenience and comfort. “Some of these luxury items remain optional on CT's segment rivals.” Ironically when the CT200h first went on sale in 2011 the base …

"Showrooming"—when consumers browse items in a store and buy them online—has already rocked the books and consumer-electronics sectors, forcing some chains such as Borders and Circuit City into bankruptcy. But it is now rippling into the luxury world …

Roberta prefers three other more affordable areas: San Babila, Corso Buenos Aires and the Duomo neighborhood. "You can find everything at these places, not just luxury items," she says. "I drain my credit card at American Apparel." Models — they're …