Budgets/Spending/Market Size

Greensboro, N.C. -- The Fresh Market posted weaker than expected sales and earnings for its third quarter. The upscale grocer also reduced its guidance for the year.

For the 13-week quarter ended Oct. 27, net income was up some 1.8%, to $11.1 million.

Net sales grew 13.4%, to $364.5 million. Comparable-store sales increased 3.1%.

New York -- Since 2009, retail sales at North America’s 205 outlet centers have increased from $19.9 billion to $27.6 billion, an increase of $7.7 billion, according to an International Council of Shopping Centers report.

Six publicly traded REITs with notable outlet center portfolios have benefited from outlet center success, according to SNL Financial. They are:

Chicago -- Using new traffic forecasting metholdology, ShopperTrak now forecasts that 10% fewer shoppers will visit brick-and-mortar stores in the holiday months of November and December as compared to last year. In September, the company has projected a 1.4% decline in traffic.
 

Phoenix – PetSmart reported a 12% increase in net income, to $92 million from $82 million a year earlier, during the third quarter of 2013. Total sales grew about 4%, to $1.69 billion from $1.62 billion, while same-store sales increased 2.7%.

Looking ahead, PetSmart predicts same-store sales growth of 3%-3.5% and total sales growth of approximately 3% for fiscal 2013. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, PetSmart forecasts same-store sales growth of 2.5%-3.5% and a 2%-3% decrease in total sales.

Cleveland -- Holiday spending expectations are in line with last year when in-store shopping accounted for 70% of spending, according to a new survey by Forest City Enterprises. The average in-store expenditure is expected to increase by 1% to about $774. The average online expenditure is expected to decrease by 0.3% to $330.

Holiday shoppers will be driven more than ever by value this year and that they expect to shift even more of their spending toward children, the study found.  

New York -- MasterCard Advisor’s latest MasterCard Spending Pulse survey found that there are some product categories that won’t see the biggest spending uptick on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The monthly SpendingPulse report anticipates that the biggest shopping day of the season for jewelry and luxury retailers will be Dec. 21 – the last Saturday before Christmas, which is becoming commonly known as “Super Saturday.”

Washington, D.C. -- More than 60% of consumers will start holiday shopping on Black Friday and most will spend more than 50% of their holiday budget over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to research by the Georgetown Institute for Consumer Research, sponsored by KPMG.

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree Inc. reported that its net income in the third quarter fell 19%, impacted by a one -time gain a year related to selling its stake in the Ollie's Holdings chain. The company forecast results for the fourth quarter below Street expectations.

The company posted earnings of $125.4 million for the period ended Nov. 2, down from $155.4 million a year ago.

Revenue rose 9.5% to $1.88 billion. Analysts expected revenue of $1.91 billion.

Same-store sales were up 3%.