Retail Throws a Hail Mary

SAN FRANCISCO -- Retailers have one last week to coax shoppers into stores before all bets are off.

Right now, they are doing whatever it takes.

This past weekend brought a big surge of traffic, but not enough to make up for the lack of sales throughout the holiday season, industry observers say. As a result, retailers will have to cut their prices deeper -- driving down profit margins -- and keep their doors open longer to gain some ground in the home stretch. ...