Budgets/Spending/Market Size

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s reported a 39% increase in fiscal fourth-quarter earnings to $285 million, up from $205 million a year earlier.

Sales grew 3% in the latest quarter to $10.5 billion. Same-store sales rose 1.1%.

For fiscal 2010, net income grew to $2 billion, from $1.8 billion in fiscal 2009. Sales grew to $48.8 billion from $47.2 billion.

The company expects to open 25 to 30 stores in 2011.

New York City -- Saks returned to profitability in its fiscal fourth quarter as the chain sold more items at full-price and used fewer promotions. The company reported net income of $25 million for the period ended Jan. 29, compared with a loss of $4.6 million a year earlier.

Revenue rose 7% to $866.3 million, topping Wall Street's estimate of $854.4 million. Same store sales were up 8.4%.

Atlanta -- Home Depot reported Tuesday that profit for the quarter ended Jan. 30 surged 72% to $587 million, compared with $342 million a year earlier, and and the home-improvement chain provided 2011 guidance at or above the views it gave in December. Results were helped by a strong showing in the United States.

Revenue increased 3.8% to $15.12 billion, beating Wall Street expectations of $14.81 billion. Same-store sales rose 3.9% and were up 4.8% in the United States.

New York City -- The National Retail Federation said Thursday that it expects retail sales growth of 4% this year, the biggest increase since 2006.

However, the group warned that shoppers are likely to remain cautious as they cope with slow job growth and rising prices.

The NRF said it expects retail sales to reach $2.47 trillion in 2011, up from $2.37 trillion in 2010, excluding automobiles, fuel and restaurants.

Phoenix -- Private equity firm Apollo Management will acquire majority ownership in Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market. Apollo plans to combine Sprouts operations with another of its holdings, Henry's Farmers Market, based in Irvine, Calif. The combined company will operate under the Sprouts Farmers Market name.

Terms of the deal, expected to close in the second quarter of this year, were not disclosed. The combined grocers will have 98 stores and generate annual sales that exceed $1 billion.

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop said Thursday that it recorded net income of $8.3 million in the fiscal fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $0.9 million in the year-ago period.

Total sales for the period rose 2.2% to $125.8 million, from $123.1 million a year earlier. Same-store sales companywide dipped 3.7%.

For the full year, total revenues rose 1.4% to $401.5 million.

New York City -- A report released Thursday by American Express Business Insights said that spending in the fourth quarter was up across the board, but the retail sector spend growth was more subdued despite the holiday shopping season.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Thursday by the Labor Department said that applications for jobless benefits increased by 25,000 to 410,000 in the week ended Feb. 12, exceeding the 400,000 median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

The filings increase indicates that labor market will take time to develop.

The total number of people receiving unemployment insurance was little changed, while those collecting extended payments decreased.