Seasonal

Persistent winter weather took a bite out of Stein Mart’s net income in the first quarter, but the retailer rallied once the weather improved. It closed the quarter with total and comparable-store sales increases, and the upward trend has continued through May.

The company reported total sales for the four-week period ended May 31 of $109.6 million, a 2.2% increase over total sales of $107.3 million for the four-week period ended June 1 last year. Comparable store sales for the month increased 0.4% from comparable store sales for the same month last year.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group Inc reported its fiscal third-quarter profit rose to $33.2 million, from $31.2 million in the year ago period.

Revenue inched up 0.3% to $1.145 billion, compared to $1.142 billion a year earlier, driven by new store growth at Justice and Maurices, along with higher comparable sales at Lane Bryant, Maurices and Catherines, mostly offset by comparable sales declines at Justice and Dressbarn.

Total same store sales rose 1%.

WTI expects June 2014 to trend similar to last year and above normal for the U.S. as a whole. Cooler and more normal temperatures can be expected from the Western Plains to the Rocky Mountain states. Temperatures will be cooler than last year along the West Coast, but still above normal with slightly weaker demand for summer categories. In the Northeast, temperatures will trend similar to last year while precipitation trends drier than a very wet June 2013, which will benefit store traffic and increase demand for outdoor categories.

Washington, D.C. -- The average person will spend $113.80 on neckties, tools, electronics and other special gifts for Father’s Day, slightly down from $119.84 last year, according to NRF’s 2014 Father’s Day Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. Total spending for the holiday is expected to reach $12.5 billion.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp.’s first-quarter profit and sales missed Wall Street estimates as the retailer cited an “unfavorable’ winter, increased competition and economic challenges. The company said Tuesday its profit rose to $222.4 million, from $220.1 million year ago. The retailer also reiterated its plans to open 700 stores in fiscal 2014, and remodel, to varying degrees, another 900 existing locations.

Net sales rose to $4.52 billion, from $4.23 billion. Same-store sales rose 1.5% in the quarter.

Father’s Day is already the smallest of gift-giving holidays and this year Americans are expected to spend even less, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2014 Father’s Day Spending Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

The survey found that the average person will spend $113.80 on neckties, tools, electronics and other special gifts for dad, slightly down from $119.84 last year. Total spending for the holiday is expected to reach $12.5 billion.

Austin, Texas - More people buy Mother's Day gifts than Father's Day gifts (86%, compared to 77%). According to the 2014 Father’s Day Shopper Trend report from RetailMeNot, survey respondents say they spend $61 on Father's Day gifts and $68 on Mother's Day gifts.

Pittsburgh - Field & Stream is celebrating the opening of its new store in Erie, Pennsylvania on June 13 with an omnichannel promotion. The promotion centers around the first-ever Field & Stream Camp 1871, an overnight camping event June 12-13.

To date Loblaw has donated more than $1 million and 323,000 pounds of food across Canada during the Extra Helping Food Drive, and is more than halfway to achieving its 2014 goal of $1.8 million and 1.8 million pounds of food.

Newfoundlanders have helped to replenish food bank supplies in the province with $27,721 and 26,940 pounds of food donated by customers and colleagues at Dominion, SaveEasy and nofrills stores across Newfoundland and Labrador during the Extra Helping Spring Food Drive of 2014.

Field & Stream is celebrating the opening of its new store in Erie, Pa., June 13 with an omnichannel promotion. The promotion centers around the first-ever Field & Stream Camp 1871, an overnight camping event June 12-13.