Consumer Attitudes & Behavior

Columbus, Ohio -- A slowing trend in retail same-store sales leveled out at 3.6% growth in December as shoppers' spending plans firmed up in time for the holidays while remaining value-focused, according to Kantar Retail.

Chelmsford, Mass. -- Monthly hires in the retail industry remain well above the lows reached during the recession and suggest retail hiring is continuing to improve following sharp declines in 2008 and 2009, according to the January Kronos Retail Labor Index.

The Index dipped to 3.5% in December, reflecting a 7.6% drop in hires made. (The January report includes data for December 2011. The analysis and write-up is prepared by Macroeconomic Advisers LLC).

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1 Imports Inc. said Thursday its same-store sales climbed 11.3% in December, driven by a greater number of shoppers who spent more on each visit. The gain topped the 10.3% rise in the same month a year ago.

The chain said sales remained strong throughout the month, including the week after Christmas, in every region.

New York City -- Many retailers reported solid sales gains for December, but the deep discounts and promotions that shoppers have come to expect cut into profits.  A range of retailers, including Target and The Children’s Place, reduced their, reducing their earnings outlooks. Overall, retail sales rose 3.4% at the 22 retailers tracked by the Thomson Reuters same-store sales index, compared with the 3.3% analyst forecast.

New York City -- A report released Wednesday by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs said that post-Christmas shopping surges propelled U.S. same-store sales significantly forward during the week after Christmas.

Customer experience analytics firm ForeSee today released the results of their seventh annual Holiday E-Retail Satisfaction Index, and Target was ranked 29.

Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel drew a proverbial line in the sand last month when he noted the company’s same-stores sales performance in December would be better than the company’s modest showing in November.

Actually, what he said was, “For the month of December, our comparable-store sales results will compare the five weeks ending Dec. 31, 2011 to the five weeks ended Jan. 1, 2011. We expect a low to mid single-digit increase in Target’s comparable-store sales for this period, stronger than our November performance.”

There were no new surprises during November regarding prices at Target and Walmart.

New York City -- Wall Street analysts expect retailers to report a healthy end to the holiday season, fueled by discounts, improved consumer sentiment and such tactics as extended hours and layaways, Reuters reported.

Twenty-two major chains, from Macy's Inc. to Costco Wholesale Corp, are likely to post an aggregate 4.3% increase in December same-store sales according to Thomson Reuters.

Charleston, S.C. -- January post-holiday sales will plunge to some of the lowest levels in years thanks to a surge in credit card spending over the Christmas season, according to consumer research firm America’s Research Group (ARG).

"Now that those credit card bills are hitting mailboxes, shoppers will cut back in a very significant way relative to January and February of the last few years," said Britt Beemer, chairman, ARG.