Seasonal

New York City -- Walgreen Co. said Thursday that its same-store sales increased 0.4 percent in December, beating analysts' estimates for a decline of 0.1%.

Front-end sales were up 0.6%. Same-store pharmacy sales, which make up nearly 60% of total sales, rose 0.2%. Walgreen said those sales were hurt by more launches of generic drugs, as well as a milder season for coughs, colds and the flu.

Rite Aid Corp. said Thursday its December same-store sales rose 3.6%, boosted by higher pharmacy sales.

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 -- The nation’s discounters and department store retailers turned in mixed results for December, with many chains citing unseasonably warm weather that sapped demand for cold-weather merchandise.

“Cold-weather categories, which are highly profitable and represent approximately 25% of our business in December, were down mid-teens on a percentage basis,” said Tony Buccina, vice chairman, president – merchandising, The Bon-Ton Stores, whose December same-store sales fell 0.7%. The company widened its loss forecast.

ATLANTA — Goody is launching for 2012 its first-ever heat styling products that are slated to hit Target and Walmart shelves in March.

The new collection is comprised of the Goody Heat Flash Dry blow dryer, Smart Temp blow dryer and Wave Creator styling iron.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic reported Wednesday that same-store sales for the nine-week holiday shopping period of November and December edged up 1.2%. The company upped its fourth quarter guidance based on the results.

In related news, Hot Topic has named Cindy Levitt as VP, general merchandise manager, effective Jan. 16.

Everett, Wash. -- Zumiez Inc. reported Wednesday that total sales for the five-week period ended Dec. 31 increased 18.1% to $104.6 million, compared to $88.5 million last year.

Same-store sales surged 10% for the period.

Based on better than planned holiday sales and product margin, the company has increased its guidance and now expects fiscal 2011 fourth quarter total sales of $180 to $181 million.

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.

The difficulties Target experienced with the relaunch of its website early last fall and subsequent fall off in traffic couldn’t have come at a worse time, as total retail online sales hit new highs during the holiday season.

Online sales increased 15% to $35.3 billion From Nov. 1 through Dec. 25 compared with the same time period the prior year, according to the online measurement firm comScore.

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.”