Budgets/Spending/Market Size

New York - U.S. retail sales fell 0.4% in March, the biggest decrease in nine months, amid a slowdown in hiring and higher taxes. Excluding sales of autos, gas and building materials, core sales dropped 0.2% in March, following a 0.3% increase in January.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corporation  reported net sales of $9.67 billion for the month of March, the five weeks ended April 7, 2013, an increase of 7% from $9.07 billion during the similar period last year.

For the thirty-one weeks ended April 7, 2013, the company reported net sales of $61.02 billion, an increase of 8% from $56.34 billion during the similar period last year.

Total comparable-store sales for the month, excluding fuel were up 6%. For the thirty-one week period, they were up 5%.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp reported a 4% rise in same-store sales, missing analysts' expectations for a 5.2% increase. The company said its results were negatively impacted by lower fuel prices and a strong dollar, which hurt the value of its sales overseas.

Net sales at Costco rose 7%to $9.67 billion for the five-week period ended April 7.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has proposed increasing federal taxes on cigarettes, drawing criticism from tobacco companies and praise from anti-smoking groups.

As part of his proposed budget, Obama proposed raising the tax on cigarettes by 94 cents per pack, with similar increases on other tobacco products. The current tax is $1.01 per pack.

Arlington, Va. -- A statement by The Retail Industry Leaders Association regarding President Obama’s 2014 budget proposal was issued Wednesday, saying, “While we applaud the President for recognizing the urgent need for revenue neutral corporate tax reform, his proposal falls short of the bold reforms needed.” said Bill Hughes, SVP government affairs.  

New York -- A Wednesday report by Reuters said that Jerry Murray, the Wal-Mart finance VP who called the chain's early February sales "a total disaster" in an email made public by Bloomberg, has left the company, effective April 5.

Wal-Mart Stores has confirmed the report, telling Reuters that it was Murray's decision to leave and that his last day at Wal-Mart was Friday.

DALLAS — Tuesday Morning Corp. said total sales for the third quarter ended March 31 increased 3.1% to $178.1 million, from $172.7 million in the year-ago period.

Same-store sales rose 2.8%, boosted by increases in average transaction value and customer traffic. 

For the nine-month period ended March 31, revenue at stores open at least a year increased 3.7% and total sales rose 3.2% to $636.2 million, from $616.4 million.

The company plans to release its full third-quarter results on April 25.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association said Monday via a written letter to the House Ways and Means Committee that all corporate tax preferences need to be “put on the table” so that politics can be neutralized and progress can be made.