Finance & Capital Management

New York -- The slowdown in consumer spending is set to continue for the rest of the year, said Moody’s Investors Service in a new sector report entitled "U.S. Retail: Retail Sales Growth Slows Amid a Cautious Consumer.”

Minneapolis -- A Monday report in the Wall Street Journal said that grocery supplier C&S Wholesale Grocers is said to be interested in buying the distribution business of Supervalu Inc.

On July 11, Supervalu – which owns such grocery banners as Albertson’s, Jewel-Osco and Save-A-Lot – revealed it would explore a sale of all or part of the company. It said it had hired Goldman Sachs and Greenhill & Co. to launch a review of strategic options, including asset sales.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart became one of the first retailers to offer a reloadable prepaid card requiring no initial charge to load funds with the launch of its new Halogen Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard offered by Green Dot. In addition to the no charge for loading funds, the card offers free ATM withdrawals from network ATMs, and is available with no bank account, credit check or minimum balance required.

Henderson, Nev. -- Efficiency upgrades at 621 7-Eleven stores in California, Washington, and Oregon, will result in an anticipated energy savings of approximately $1.2 million annually.

The upgrades were completed by Castrovilla, a subsidiary of Blue Earth, an energy efficiency and renewable energy services company. The project involved the installation of energy efficient electronically commutated motors, anti-sweat heater controls, evaporator fan controls, gaskets, door closers and strip curtains.

NORWALK, Conn. — LogicSource, a procurement services firm which initially focused on printed materials and related commodities and services, will now offer clients sourcing and procurement of materials for store construction and maintenance, including rollout displays, fixtures, lighting, flooring, mannequins, hangers, gift boxes, bags and exterior signage.

WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales declined during the month of June, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday.

U.S. retail and food services sales for the month, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $401.5 billion, an decrease of 0.5% from the previous month but 3.8% above the year-ago period. Retail trade sales were down 0.5% from last month but 3.5% above last year.

Visa and MasterCard on Friday announced a proposed $6.6 billion settlement to a long-running dispute over the fees they charge merchants, but one major trade group was clearly annoyed at the prospect.

New York -- Sycamore Partners extended the expiration date of its tender offer to buy The Talbots by 14 days. Sycamore said in May that it would buy the women's apparel retailer for $193.3 million, or $2.75 per share -- a price that was lower than its previous offers.

The tender offer was previously scheduled to expire at midnight, New York City time, on July 13. It now has been extended to July 27.