Research Topic

Everett, Wash. -- Zumiez said its same-store sales increased 9.8% for the five-week period ended July 2.

Total net sales for the period increased 16.8% to $43.5 million, compared with $37.2 million for the five-week period ended July 3, 2010.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Ross Stores will celebrate on July 16 the opening of its 1,000th Dress for Less store in North Pleasant Hill, Calif. 

Ross Stores' announcement of its 1,000th Dress for Less store follows strong monthly and quarterly sales and earnings, as the company continues to thrive in the down economy.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic reported Wednesday that its June same-store sales year rose 0.4%. Analysts, on average, had expected same-store sales to fall 2.4%, according to Thomson Reuters.

Total sales for the five weeks ended July 2 fell 1.8% to $58 million.
 

In his newest column, Retail Rap with Jeff Green, Chain Store Age columnist Green examines the early uptick in medical users in retail centers and questions why the trend has apparently stalled.

Click here to read Green's column.

Shoppers face a lot of economic headwinds this back-to-school season, but one forecaster has seasonal sales growing by 6.2% to $467 billion, the most since 2006.

That’s according to retail consultants Customer Growth Partners’ annual BTS forecast, which defies warnings of a double-dip recession and sees American households as being more resilient with their back-to-school spending during the July through September time frame.

In his newest column, Retail Rap with Jeff Green, Chain Store Age columnist Green examines the early uptick in medical users in retail centers and questions why the trend has apparently stalled.

Click here to read his latest editorial. 

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Thursday by Bloomberg said that consumer confidence reached its highest level in 10 weeks, thanks to falling gas prices and despite a 9.1% unemployment rate.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index increased to minus 43.9 for the period ended June 26, after dropping to minus 44.9 the prior week. According to the report, falling fuel costs are reducing consumer stress.

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended May 28 was $1.9 million, compared with $6.3 million in the year-ago period.

Sales dropped to $123.8 million, from $126.2 million a year earlier. Same-store sales dipped 2%.

The retailer said it plans to open 31 new stores and close 35 existing stores in fiscal 2012.