Budgets/Spending/Market Size

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s said Friday that net income for the quarter ended April 28 rose to $95 million, from $76.7 million in the year-ago period, setting a company record for profit increases.

Sales rose to $1.55 billion, from $1.47 billion. Same-store sales climbed 5%, the department store retailer’s seventh consecutive quarter of comp increases.

Dillard’s said it saw its greatest strength in the first quarter from the central region of the United States, followed by the eastern and the western regions.

Omaha, Neb. -- Midwestern discount department store retailer Gordman’s Stores said Friday that profit for the quarter ended April 28 rose 10.6% to $8.1 million, compared with $7.3 million in the year-ago period.

Sales rose 13.8% to $133.9 million, from $117.7 million. Same-store sales climbed 4.7%.

“We are pleased with our overall performance and remain confident in our ability to realize our sales and profit guidance for fiscal 2012," said Jeff Gordman, president and CEO.

Cincinnati -- A report on Friday by the Associated Press said that Kroger chief David Dillon received a 66% bump in pay in 2011, as the grocer surpassed its internal growth targets.

Dillon was paid a package worth $8.9 million last year, up from $5.4 million in 2010. The compensation included a cash performance bonus of $2.7 million. Stock and award options rose to $5.2 million and salary was $1.3 million.
 

RESTON, Va. — ComScore reported that online retail spending reached $44.3 billion for first quarter 2012, up 17% from the year-ago period.

ComScore said retail e-commerce sale estimates represented the tenth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Additional findings included:

• 48.8% of e-commerce transactions included free shipping, the highest percentage for a quarter on record outside of the holiday season;

 

Atlanta -- A Wednesday report by First Data found that April sales were negatively impacted by a March Easter, but that there has been an earlier start to the spring spending season.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Corp. reported Thursday that first-quarter profit fell 23% on aggressive price cuts, falling to $154 million from $201 million in the year-ago period. Results met internal expectations and goals, but missed Wall Street estimates.

Sales for the quarter ended April 28 edged up 1.9% to $4.2 billion, meeting analysts’ estimates.  Same-store sales inched up 0.2%.

Reston, Va. -- Online U.S. retail spending reached $44.3 billion in first quarter 2012, up 17% versus a year ago, according to comScore’s Q1 2012 Retail survey. It was the tenth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.

In other findings, 38% of tablet owners have made a purchase on their devices within the past month. Apparel was the most popular category for purchase among tablet shoppers.

New York -- Shoppers in the United States earning at least $150,000 annually rank Nordstrom highest among luxury retailers, according to a survey by the Luxury Institute.

According to the 2012 Luxury Consumer Experience Index, which ranks retailers based on customers' evaluations of a brand's store personnel, shopping environment and degree of satisfaction with the total experience, Nordstrom earns the top overall score of 8.41 out of 10.

Bergdorf Goodman ranked second (8.37), and Barneys New York third (8.23).

Cary, N.C. -- C-store operator The Pantry said Tuesday that it lost $9.7 million in the second quarter, compared with a loss of $300,000 in the same period last year. Results were hurt by rising gas prices.

Same-store merchandise sales rose 4.8%
 

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax Inc. reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended March 31 slid to $4.9 million, compared with $11.4 million in the year-ago period. Results were hampered by charges related to U.S. store closures.

Total sales edged up 0.5% to $1.9 billion. In the retail segment, sales dipped 2.7% to $912.3 million; same-stores sales fell 2.1%.