This IDC Retail Insights report looks at the health of the industry using data from the Global Performance Index database. The quarterly topic of interest is cloud computing and how retailers should begin to look at how the architectural approach can be applied to their business.

Group Vice President of Research Bob Parker said, "The current economic situation dictates a vigilant protection of corporate capital balanced with a recognition that there is also tremendous opportunity to capture market share. IT investments are becoming increasingly central to realizing those opportunities."