Finance & Capital Management

Both the volume of and monetary losses caused by fraudulent transactions have sharply increased in the past year.

According to the “2016 True Cost of Fraud Report” from LexisNexis Risk Solutions, the monthly average of fraudulent transactions has increased 32% to 206 from 156 in 2015. In addition, the monthly average of prevented fraudulent transactions has risen 33% to 236 from 177.

Even with fuel prices continuing to be low across the nation, U.S. retail sales were stagnant in March 2016.

According to advance data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, total seasonally adjusted retail and food services sales in the U.S. fell 0.3% to $446.9 billion compared to $448.2 billion in February 2016.

This continued shaky performance in 2016 that has included flat sales in February and a decline in January.

Publix Super Markets added its soon-to-be CEO, current CFO and a retired Deloitte executive to its board of directors when the Southeast’s leading food retailer held its annual stockholders meeting on April 12.

Publix president Todd Jones, CFO David Phillips and retired Deloitte executive Jessica Blume were elected to the board of the $32.4 billion retailer.

Lowe's Companies Inc. is pricing a $3.3 billion notes offering, with an eye toward supporting a planned purchase of another home improvement retailer.

The retailer has agreed to sell $250 million of floating rate notes due 2019, $350 million of 1.15% notes due 2019, $1.35 billion of 2.5% notes due 2026 and $1.35 billion of 3.7% notes due 2046.

Canadian supermarket and pharmacy retailer Loblaw Companies intends to expand in areas including real estate, e-commerce, IT and supply chain during 2016.

Leading single price point retailer 99 Cents Only has secured a major amendment and extension of its credit facility until 2021.

The operator of 391 stores, 283 of which are located in California, announced it successfully completed an amendment and extension of its asset-based revolving credit facility providing commitment of up to $160 million and extending the maturity date by five years to April 8, 2021.

If you are following the presidential race with even a passing interest, you have no doubt heard a great deal about wage stagnation and economic inequality.

Numerous causes and remedies have been offered ranging from a needed increase in the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, mandatory paid sick leave, “wage theft” protections and even scheduling reform for hourly workers. And, while there hasn’t been significant progress in Washington, D.C., on those issues, numerous states and localities have passed similar measures addressing wage and benefit issues.