Research Topic

Washington, D.C. – U.S. retail and food services sales totaled $422.8 billion last month, according to new advance estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. This represents a 0.4% increase from $421.2 billion in the prior month, and a more substantial 5.7% increase from $399.9 billion in the same month last year.

Walmart increased promotional activity in June with nearly a 50% increase in circular pages and 80% increase in ad blocks, according to the latest data from ECRM Analytics. The surge in promotional activity was notable given the behavior of key competitors who were less aggressive. Click here for more.

National Retail Federation SVP for government relations David French spoke to Fox News' Stuart Varney about D.C.’s decision to pass a living wage bill requiring non-union, big box retailers to pay their employees $12.60 per hour. As a result of the bill's passing, Walmart has scrapped plans to open three stores in the District. While defenders of the bill point out that the living wage is a fair one given cost of living and the still challeneging economic climate, Varney says the District, via its council members, is turning down 2,000 jobs and French agrees.

STAMFORD, Conn. — GE Capital Retail Bank’s second annual Major Purchase Shopper Study has found that a growing number of consumers extensively research and compare prices and financing offers before making major purchases.

Armonk, N.Y. -- Retailers and CPG companies with leading stock prices are more likely than their lagging competitors to use Big Data analytics to understand and adjust to customer needs. According to a study of 325 senior retail merchandising executives conducted by IBM Center for Applied Insights in conjunction with Planet Retail, 65% of leading retail merchandisers feel Big Data analytics is critical to their business compared to just 38% of other retail companies.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco has started the summer right, reporting sales of $9.92 billion for the month of June, the five-week period ended July 7, an 8% increase over the same period last year. 

For the 44-week period that ended Sunday, sales were $87.05 billion, also an 8% increase over the same period last year. For the month and the 44-week period, same-store sales rose 6%.

San Diego -- Warehouse club operator PriceSmart reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended May 31 rose 18% to $18.5 million, compared with $15.7 million in the year-ago period but missing Wall Street estimates.

Revenue rose 13% to $571.7 million, beating analysts’ expected $568.6 million in sales. Same-store sales rose 9.7%.

Hollywood, Fla. -- A.R.E. (Association for Retail Environments) has appointed Todd Dittman executive director, succeeding Klein Merriman, who will retire in August. In this role, Dittman, a marketing and finance executive with more than 20 years of experience, will lead A.R.E. and manage Pave, the industry educational foundation, and the Retail Design Institute, working with each organization’s volunteer officers and boards of directors. The appointment is effective Aug. 1.

Los Angeles -- CBRE Group Inc. has made two research appointments.

First, Nick Axford, Ph.D., will move up to Global Head of Research, a new position, from CBRE’s Asia Pacific business unit. He will manage global research efforts, establish strategies that support CBRE objectives and serve as a resource for clients on global commercial real estate trends.

In addition, Raymond Torto, Ph.D. will become global chairman of CBRE Research. He will analyze market trends for clients.

New York -- U.S. retailers' June sales suggest overall consumer spending is improving, even though lower-end shoppers are holding back on nonessential purchases. Same-store sales increased 3.9% in June compared to the year-ago period, according to a preliminary tally of 12 retailers by the International Council of Shopping Centers. The association had expected a 3% to 3.5% increase.