Budgets/Spending/Market Size

Washington, D.C. -- A Friday report by Bloomberg said that the U.S. economy grew at a 1.9% pace in the first quarter, edging estimates of a 1.8% growth pace but marking the start of what policymakers project is a temporary slowdown in growth.

The revised rise in gross domestic product matches the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News and follows a 3.1% gain in the prior quarter, according to Friday’s Commerce Department figures.

Austin -- Whole Foods Market co-CEO Walter Robb told investors at a Jefferies Global Consumer Conference that the now-300-store chain is expected to grow to 1,000 stores in the United States.

The organic grocer sees opportunity in Canada as well, and Robb said it expects to grow its store count there from six to 35.

New York City -- A report released Thursday by The Conference Board said that the rate of dismissal of CEOs in the S&P 500 due to disciplinary actions has increased in recent years, while 25% of boards of directors facing a chief executive succession have opted for an outside hire.

According to the 2011 CEO Succession Report, 51 CEOs in the S&P 500 left their post in 2010, making the rate of CEO succession approximately 10%, consistent with the average number of annual succession announcements from 2000 through 2009.

Union, N.J. -- Bed Bath & Beyond reported Wednesday that net income for the first quarter jumped 31% to $180.6 million, compared with $137.6 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue surged 10% to $2.11 billion, and same-store sales rose 7%. Results surpassed Wall Street expectations of $2.07 billion in revenue.

Bed Bath & Beyond has raised its outlook, now expecting full-year earnings to rise 15% to 20% over last year.
 

WASHINGTON — The vitality of consumer packaged goods companies is healthy again, according to a new report issued by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers on Wednesday.

Boston -- A survey released Tuesday by the Boston Consulting Group found that a growing number of consumers around the world are growing more anxious about the future, and are planning to reduce or maintain -- but not increase -- their spending.

New York City -- Mobile commerce is expected to reach $31 billion by the end of 2016, according to a new report from Forrester Research.

The report, “Mobile Commerce Forecast: 2011 to 2016,” predicts an annual compound growth rate of 39% for mobile commerce over the next five years.

The report predicts mobile commerce will reach $6 billion by the end of this year, $10 billion next year and $31 billion by 2016.

The most recent Leading National Advertisers annual report from Advertising Age shows Target posted the biggest increased in ad spending in 2010 among conventional retailers. The total amount the company spent increased 12% to $1.508 billion compared with $1.246 billion the prior year. That put the company 18th on the Ad Age list of the nation’s 100 largest advertisers. Only two retailers spent more than Target.