Walmart

MINNEAPOLIS — While its impossible to compare Walmart's monthly performance with Target's, as Walmart no longer provides monthly sales, it can be assumed that Target's less-than-impressive comps increase was affected by stiff Black Friday competition.

Wal-Mart Stores said it would offer better financial education and investment options to its associates, following its agreement, along with Merill Lynch, to pay a total of $13.5 million to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit alleging the retailer and its retirement plan administrator breached their fiduciary duty toward nearly 2 million past and present Walmart workers in the company’s 401(k) plan, Forbes.com reported.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target may have a chance to bounce back from its anemic 1.8% November comps increase during a period that included strong Black Friday performances for most retailers, with its "Almost Last Minute Sale," a new savings event that will offer discounts on items from the most popular gift categories including home, apparel and accessories, toys, and electronics. The three-day sale will take place Dec. 8 through Dec. 10 in stores and at Target.com.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Shoppers who were out in full force on Black Friday may not walk retail aisles again until just before Christmas — when retailers are expected to heavily discount merchandise — according to the latest America's Research Group/UBS "Christmas Forecast."

Target may have been up against a difficult prior-year comparison when it reported a 1.8% November same-store sales increase, but that hardly seems like a good excuse for an anemic number to begin the fourth quarter.

Listening to the debate over the years about whether India should allow foreign direct investment in its retail industry sounded an awful lot like the opposition Walmart has dealt with for decades in the United States.

As retailers assess what worked and what didn’t in terms of Black Friday promotions and Thanksgiving weekend sales, overall there are a few things that stand out.

Walmart prices are lower than dollar store competitors in two New Jersey markets, but not by much, according to a recent survey conducted by Deutsche Bank.