Budgets/Spending/Market Size

New York City -- Consumer confidence in February shot up from last month to the highest level since a year ago, according to The Conference Board. The group’s Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 70.8, up from a revised 61.5 in January, buoyed by consumers' more positive assessment of the job market.

Arlington, Va. -- A new study released by the Consumer Electronics Association found that more consumers are using their mobile devices for online transactions.

The "Mobile Commerce -- Reinventing the Way Consumers Shop" study found that 37% of mobile device owners are engaging in some form of commerce from their device. This could mean making a purchase, redeeming a coupon or gift card or searching for a coupon.

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s Inc. reported Thursday that profit for the fourth quarter rose to $141.5 million from $109.6 million a year earlier, beating analysts’ expectations.

Sales edged up 2% to $1097 billion. Same-store sales rose 3%.
 

Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- Kohl’s Corp. reported Thursday that profit for the fourth quarter dropped 7.9% to $455 million, from $494 million a year earlier, as the retailer experienced unexpected revenue declines during the holiday selling period.

Kohl's reported that total sales dipped 0.3% to $6.02 billion in the period, and same-store sales dropped 2.1%. It was the chain’s first revenue decline in three years

WASHINGTON — Retailers hoping to see a boost in sales this tax season may be out of luck as more Americans this year plan to save their refunds.

The National Retail Federation's tax returns consumer survey, conducted by BIGinsight, found that 43.8% of those expecting refunds will save some of that money, up from 42.l% who said so last year and the most in the survey’s nine-year history. Two-thirds (66.2%) of tax payers are expecting a refund this year, the exact same as last year.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation expressed its support for President Obama's proposal for business tax reform, and pledged to work with the White House and Congress to win passage of legislation that would significantly lower rates in order to help retailers and other businesses create jobs.

Dallas -- Zale Corp. posted a higher second quarter profit helped by a surge in holiday sales. Net profit rose to $28.8 million, from $27.2 million a year ago.

Overall revenue rose 6% to $663.8 million. Same-store sales rose 5.8%.
 

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree Inc. reported a higher-than-expected profit for the fourth quarter ended on Jan. 28. But the chain forecast quarterly earnings and sales below Wall Street estimates amid rising gasoline prices and increased competition from larger rivals.

For the quarter, net income rose to $187.9 million, from $162.5 million a year earlier.

Sales rose about 12.8% to $1.95 billion. Same-store sales were up 7.3%.

CINCINNATI — Macy's continues to see improved financial performance, reporting fourth-quarter sales and earnings today that exceeded management’s expectations.

The company reported fourth-quarter earnings per diluted share of $1.74, compared with diluted earnings per share of $1.59 for the fourth quarter of 2010. Sales for the quarter increased 5.5% to $8.7 billion from $8.3 billion last year. Same-store sales for the quarter increased 5.2%.

DAYTON, Ohio — While Walmart maintained the No. 1 position on Interbrand's U.S. Most Valuable Retail Brands list for 2012, several other retailers are moving up the ranks.

Although Walmart touts a value that's more than $139 billion, this year also marked a 2% decrease for the big box retailer, Interbrand said. Second on this year's list was Target, which holds a value of $23 billion, a 1% increase over last year.