HOUSTON Layaway is back, as more merchants offer extended payment plans. Consumer Reports has tested a lot of things over the years: TVs, plastic dishes, even men's socks. And now Consumer Reports ...

NEW YORK — To gauge consumers’ strain, look no further than the rows and rows of plastic bags awaiting layaway payments at Kmart. They are filled with back-to-school basics — not just T-shirts and ...

For years the service was a staple of department stores that helped cash-strapped customers reserve merchandise and then pay it off later. But layaway, replaced by easy consumer credit, largely faded ...