Consumer Affairs & Relations

Indianapolis -- Marsh Supermarkets said Thursday that it will lower prices on select items in a move to spur sales and loyalty.

The program, called Good ‘Til, launched this month and guarantees that prices on the most popular items won't increase for at least three months even if industry retail prices increase.

The three-month guarantees will be offered four times per year.

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree said that its board has approved a $1.5 billion share repurchase program. The company said it has invested more than $1.9 billion for share repurchase since 2003, including $414.7 million in 2010 and $345.9 million in 2011, to date.

Atlanta -- The Home Depot announced it has named Teresa Wynn Roseborough executive VP general counsel and corporate secretary, effective in November.

Roseborough, who will be responsible for leading The Home Depot's legal department, as well as its government relations and corporate security services functions, joins the chain from MetLife, where she most recently served as deputy general counsel.

CUPERTINO, California — Steve Jobs, the man behind one of the most influential technology companies, passed away Wednesday.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away [Wednesday]," Apple's board of directors announced in a statement. "Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve."

WASHINGTON — A report released Thursday by the National Retail Federation predicted an average holiday shopping season. According to the NRF forecast, holiday retail sales for 2011 are expected to increase 2.8% to $465.6 billion. While that growth is far lower than the 5.2% increase retailers experienced last year, it is slightly higher than the 10-year average holiday sales increase of 2.6%, according to NRF.

Costco is increasing the price of its membership fees, giving Sam’s Club the green light to follow suit, although such a move seems unlikely at this time. Why? Because Sam’s Club is enjoying favorable sales momentum and upgrade activity that might be jeopardized if members were asked to pay more.

Walmart is set to hold its 18th annual fall analysts’ meeting next week and provide insight into a broad range of growth strategies, domestic turnaround efforts and international expansion. The event is scheduled to last from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Washington, D.C. -- A Thursday report by Bloomberg said that consumer confidence last week capped the worst quarterly performance in more than two years, when the U.S. economy was still in a recession.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index rose to minus 50.2 in the week ended Oct. 2, from the prior period’s minus 53 that was the second-lowest level on record. The gauge averaged minus 48.4 from July through September, the third-worst quarterly reading of all time and the weakest since minus 49.9 in the first three months of 2009.

Arlington, Va. -- A report released Thursday by the Retail Industry Leaders Association found significant increases in shoplifting and pharmacy theft, in particular. According to RILA’s 2011 Crime Trends and Leading Practices Survey, more than half of respondents reported an increase in the frequency with which organized rings committed shoplifting, and 41% saw an increase in shoplifting by individuals acting alone.

Sixty-four percent of respondents reported an increase in theft of pharmaceutical products.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1 Imports said Thursday it has, through a subsidiary, signed a new, long-term private-label credit card agreement with Alliance Data.

Under terms of the new agreement, Alliance Data, through its bank subsidiary, will provide end-to-end private-label credit card services from account acquisition to multichannel marketing and customer service for Pier 1 Imports.