Finance & Capital Management

New York City -- Modell’s Sporting Goods announced it will open a 16,460 sq. ft. store in Oceanside, N.Y., on Dec. 2. It will be the retailer’s 61st location in New York.

Modell’s operates 148 stores located in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
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Los Angeles -- After a strong Black Friday and Cyber Monday, overall holiday spending is expected to increase 3.3% to $64.3 billion, according to the  industry research firm IBISWorld.

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters Inc. reported that its third-quarter net income increased 59%, helped by a year-ago charge. The chain posted fourth-quarter guidance that was above Wall Street expectations.

For the August-October quarter, the company said net income was $52.4 million, compared with $33 million in the same period last year. Analysts expected 26 cents per share.

Revenue rose 11% to $831.8 million, from $751.5 million last year. Analysts expected $820.3 million. Same-store sales rose 5%, as did online revenue.

WASHINGTON — Internet retailers have an unfair advantage over Main Street merchants when it comes to sales tax, and legislation may be the solution to help level the playing field, according to the National Retail Federation.

Hampstead, Md. -- JoS. A. Bank Clothiers said that net income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, ended Oct. 29, 2011, increased 19.3% to $15.0 million verses $12.6 million in the year-ago period. However, the chain warned that its forth quarter has started out more slowly than expected, and that it has adjusted its December merchandising and marketing plans for the stores.

Total sales increased 21.0% to $209.6 million, from $173.3 million. Same-store sales rose 14.6% and direct marketing sales increased 28.6%.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation urged the House Judiciary Committee to support legislation that would require Internet retailers to collect sales tax the same as local merchants, saying online sellers have a price advantage that is “stifling” Main Street stores’ ability to compete.

San Francisco -- The 15 cities with the most shopping activity on Black Friday 2011 were Manhattan, N.Y.; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Brooklyn, N.Y.; San Jose, Calif.; Seattle; Chicago; San Diego; Houston; Atlanta; Dallas; Saint Louis;  Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; and Minneapolis, according to mint.com, an online personal finance site.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Tuesday by the Conference Board showed that consumer confidence experienced its biggest gain in more than eight years, jumping to 56 in November from a revised 40.9 reading in the month prior. The leap was the biggest since April 2003 and exceeded the most optimistic forecast by Bloomberg News.

The improvement in consumer attitude may help sustain household purchases, which account for about 70% of the economy, after sales climbed on both Black Friday and Cyber Monday.