Budgets/Spending/Market Size

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. reported Thursday that its loss for the quarter ended Oct. 31 widened to $218 million, compared with a loss of $127 million in the year-ago period. The loss was more than analysts expected as margins fell and sales dropped, especially at the company's namesake stores.

"While Kmart improved profitability, our third-quarter results were disappointing, in large part due to lower sales of apparel and appliances at Sears," said interim CEO W. Bruce Johnson.

Kearney, Neb. -- The Buckle reported Thursday that net income for the third quarter was $34.4 million, compared with a profit of $33.3 million a year earlier.

Net sales increased 5.2% to $243.3 million, from net sales of $231.2 million for the prior year.

Same-store sales edged up 0.5%.

Buckle currently operates 422 retail stores in 41 states.

New York City -- According to a special national consumer poll commissioned by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs, 31% of households plan to shop on Black Friday in 2010 compared with 26% in 2009. However, the strongest driver of Black Friday shopping is children, as 43% of households with kids are planning to shop on that day. Additionally, 37% of households reported that they plan to shop on the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Chicago -- Better-than-expected response to early sales promotions mixed with relatively mild weather throughout the country are already driving holiday traffic to malls and retail outlets have caused ShopperTrak to up its 2010 holiday forecast.

Washington, D.C. -- After going head-to-head with discounted holiday gifts such as luxury cashmere sweaters and appliances last year, gift cards are expected to emerge as winners this holiday season. According to NRF’s 2010 Gift Card Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by BIGresearch, Americans will spend an average of $145.61 on gift cards, up from $139.91 last year. Total gift-card spending is expected to reach $24.78 billion.

In the November issue of Chain Store Age (page 28), leasing specialist Bill Bosco discussed what is being called the biggest threat to retailers’ earnings: the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) proposed new rules for lease accounting.

According to Bosco and other experts, the new rules will essentially turn operating leases into capital leases for accounting purposes, wreaking havoc on retailers’ bottom lines.