Winter Holidays

WASHINGTON — Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 3.4%, down slightly from 4.2% in 2012 and 5.8% in 2011, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2013 economic forecast.

The lukewarm forecast, released Monday, comes on the heels of a holiday season that went head-to-head with Washington’s political wrangling over fiscal concerns, shifting consumers’ spending plans downward. In the end, holiday sales in 2012 grew 3.0%.

LOS ANGELES — Consumers expect to spend slightly more on Valentine's Day merchandise this year than last year, according to a report by market research firm IBISWorld.

The report forecasts spending of $134.08 per person, compared with last year's $133.99. Total revenue for the holiday is expected to grow by 3.2%, to $20.8 billion, despite incomes and consumer sentiments remaining below what they were before the recession.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn — Dollar General has big plans for growth in 2013 with the creation of 6,000 new jobs and the planned addition of 635 new stores and 550 relocations. With the addition of these jobs in 2013, Dollar General will have created approximately 30,000 jobs in the last six years.

New York -- Dollar General Corp. will open 635 new stores in 2013, creating some 6,000 jobs. The chain will also relocate 550 stores this year.

With the addition of these jobs in 2013, Dollar General said it will have created approximately 30,000 jobs in the last six years.

DALLAS —Tuesday Morning reported that for the second quarter, the company's net sales increased 4.5% to $285.3 million, from $273.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012.

The company reportd that its net loss for the quarter was $21.5 million, or 51 cents per share.  The company reported net income of $15.9 million or 37 cents per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. 

San Francisco -- Westfield San Francisco Centre is partnering with the Asian Art Museum, Bloomingdale’s and M.Y. China to celebrate the Chinese New Year with music and dance performances, storytelling, live cooking demonstrations, zodiac readings and more – all launching in January.

ASPEN, Colo. — Office Depot has announced its sponsorship of the 2013 X Games in Aspen. 

LANDOVER, Md. — A supermarket chain in the Washington area is marking Inauguration Day by donating lunches to the police officers assigned to guard it.

Ahold banner Giant Food of Landover, Md. — also known as Giant-Landover to distinguish it from fellow Ahold banner Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Pa. — said it would donate boxed lunches and water to the 5,000 officers of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Park Police and National Park Service.