Seasonal

CINCINNATI — After delivering a 22% increase over the prior year in diluted per share for it second quarter (from 55 cents to 67 cents), Macy's Inc. has raised its full-year earnings guidance for 2012.

The company now expects earnings per diluted share to range from $3.30 to $3.35, compared with previous guidance for earnings per diluted share of $3.25 to $3.30. Guidance for same-store sales in fiscal 2012 remains unchanged at an increase of approximately 3.7%.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Kellogg's is honoring the gold-medal-winning U.S. women's gymnastic team by featuring them on their Corn Flakes cereal box.

Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber of the "Fierce Five" will be featured on special-edition boxes of Kellogg's Corn Flakes, which will be on shelves this fall. 

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties announced that construction has started  on The Crossings at Marshalls Creek, a 103,000-sq.-ft. shopping center development in Stroudsburg (Middle Smithfield), Pa.

The shopping center will be anchored by Price Chopper grocery, Rite Aid, STS Tire and Auto Centers and Family Dollar and will feature approximately 22,000 sq. ft. of stores and restaurants. The grand opening is scheduled for June 2013.
 

Total U.S. shopper traffic in retail stores and malls for July 2012

This July, Americans celebrated their independence with barbeques, fireworks and shopping. With Independence Day, July 4, falling on a Wednesday, more consumers than usual took the entire week off. This extra vacation time provided more free time to shop compared to last year’s Fourth of July holiday. July’s retail foot traffic increased 8.1% compared to the previous month and increased 4.6% compared to the same period last year.

MINNEAPOLIS — "Hunger Game" fans will hope the "odds be ever in their favor" to get their hands on special collection keepsakes and an exclusive three-disc version of the blockbuster film. These premium items range from $349 to $999 – Target’s first-ever licensed product offering at this price point – and will be introduced one per day beginning on Aug. 18 to coincide with the DVD release.

New York -- Many retailers reported better-than-expected results in July as warm weather and clearance sales drew shoppers into stores. Thomson Reuters reported that three-quarters of retailers reported results beat expectations. Costco Wholesale Corp., Target Corp., Limited Brands and Gap Inc. all reported gains above expectations.

NEW YORK — Many retailers reported better-than-expected results in July as warm weather and clearance sales drew shoppers into stores. Thomson Reuters reported that three-quarters of retailers reported results beat expectations. Costco Wholesale Corp., Target Corp., Limited Brands and Gap Inc. all reported gains above expectations.

New York -- Helped by hot weather and clearance sales, many retailers reported solid results in July, a month that can be a tepid lead-up to the back-to-school shopping season.

Some of the strongest showings in the month were in the department store category, as those reporting all showed July gains.

Macy’s led the pack with a 4.1% same-store sales rise. Total sales increased 5.1% to $1.7 billion over the four-week period.