Budgets/Spending/Market Size

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Strong private brand performance and smarter expense management helped Kohl's deliver a hefty earnings increase and respectable sales growth for its second quarter.

The company reported second quarter diluted earnings per share increased 30% to $1.09. Net income for the quarter was $303 million, compared with $260 million (84 cents per diluted share) a year ago. Net sales were $4.2 billion, an increase of 3.6% over the comparable prior year quarter. Comparable-store sales for the quarter increased 1.9%.

Chicago -- A Tuesday report by NPD Group said that U.S. restaurant unit counts declined by 2%, which translates to a loss of 9,450 restaurants since last year.

According to the report, most of the total unit declines were independent restaurants. Chain restaurant unit counts remained relatively stable, according to NPD research.

RESTON, Va. — Online U.S. retail spending in second quarter 2011 reached $37.5 billion for the quarter, up 14% versus year ago, comScore reported Monday. This growth rate represented the seventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates.

City of Commerce, Calif. -- Discount retailer 99 Cents Only Stores reported Monday that net income for the quarter ended July 2 rose to $17.7 million, from $16.8 million in the year earlier period.

Total revenue rose 6.3% to $368.3 million, from $346.5 million a year ago. Same-store sales rose 5.9%.

YONKERS, N.Y. — Consumer Reports announced that its Index, which measures overall consumer sentiment, fell to its lowest level since December 2009 and registered its sharpest drop in two years, as recent events in Washington about the debt ceiling debate fixed attention on the weak economy.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — 99 Cents Only Stores reported that its consolidated net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $17.7 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, compared with $16.8 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, for the prior year.

Westlake, Ohio -- TravelCenters of America LLC reported Tuesday that net income for its fiscal second quarter rose to $21.7 million, compared with $1.2 million a year earlier. The improved performance was due to higher fuel sales and higher margins.

During the second quarter, total fuel sales rose 4.3%.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates showed that import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports dropped below last year, but are expected to see year-over-year gains again this fall.

According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report, volumes will stay below last year through the summer, but will edge up as retailers begin to stock up for the holiday season.