If we're being more careful about what we throw in the cart at stores these days, it makes sense that most of us probably aren't splurging on leather jackets. And that looks to be the case. Wilsons Leather, based in Brooklyn Park, announced a 14 percent drop in sales this spring, compared with last year. It's certainly been cold enough to sell jackets. The company attributed the numbers to a shift toward "a predominantly accessories-based assortment" that is "headed in the right direction." Coincidence or not?: Dealnews.com reports Wilson is having a sale: 20 percent off a $100 or more purchase, plus free shipping.

Ockham Research, blogging at SeekingAlpha.com, asks whether the early success of Medtronic's new drug-coated stent, Endeavor, might signal an end to the Fridley company's recent headaches. Medtronic has been in the news for a management shake-up and job cuts in recent weeks. But it announced good news Tuesday: Revenue for the last quarter beat expectations and was up 18 percent, compared with last year, based largely on Endeavor's strength. The Star Tribune and Pioneer Press' takes are here and here, respectively.

A complaint sent to CarSoup about a dealer listed on its website is generating conversation at The Consumerist. The letter writer says he was helping his mother shop for a used car at K2 Auto Group in Bloomington. Sounds like mom's facetious sense of humor might have soared over the salesman's head and struck a crabby nerve. She joked that she wanted to spend less than $15,000 and is "open to anything that's not American, but I did like that 2002 Jaguar." The salesman allegedly responded, "What the hell would YOU want with a Jaguar? Really, what are you doing here?" Read the full letter here.

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