Consumer Electronics

NEW YORK — Walmart is bringing back its layaway program this holiday season, responding to pressures on low income consumers, MarketWatch reported.

Walmart, which canceled the program in 2006, except for fine jewelery, based on costs and limited use, is bringing back the program at its Walmart U.S. stores for Oct. 17 to Dec. 16 for electronics and toys, according to the report.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Wednesday by the Commerce Department said that retail sales were flat in August, the weakest showing in three months.

Apparel retail sales fell 0.7% in August, following a 0.3% decline in July.  Department store sales declined 0.3%.  General merchandise stores such as Wal-Mart and Target fared better, with 0.1% gains. Analysts said Hurricane Irene likely disrupted sales in late August along most of the East Coast.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co. reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Aug. 27 plummeted 30% to $177 million from $254 million a year earlier, missing Wall Street expectations.

Salt Lake City -- Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based shopping center owner Taubman Centers announced Tuesday the first 20 retailers – all new to the market and most new to Utah – coming to City Creek Center, the 700,000-sq.-ft. retail component of mixed-used development City Creek in downtown Salt Lake City.

MINNEAPOLIS — Earnings and comparable-store sales slipped at Best Buy, where the retailer suffered slower sales in key departments and a slowdown in consumer spending. Best Buy  has reported net earnings of $177 million, or 47 cents per diluted share, for its fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 27, compared with $254 million, or 60 cents per diluted share, for the prior-year period.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — GameStop announced that customers can get double the PowerUp Rewards points just by reserving and paying in full on select games by Oct. 16, 2011. Participating games include:

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations

• Batman: Arkham City

• Battlefield 3

• Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

• Super Mario 3D Land

• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Wyomissing, Pa. -- Phoenix-based Cole Real Estate Investments said Monday that it has executed a lease with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores in Wyomissing, Pa., for approximately 25,000 sq. ft., backfilling a former Borders location.

The in-line store is located adjacent to OfficeMax, Toys “R” Us and Old Navy.

Target and the Heart of America Foundation unveiled a completely redesigned library to students, teachers and parents at P.S. 299 Thomas Warren Field School last week in New York. Servicemen and women from local police and fire departments were on hand to help put the finishing touches on the space at an event that honored local heroes – Brooklyn police officers and fire fighters. Target presented one police officer and one fire fighter with a “Hero of the Heart Award,” which will serve as a special tribute to their dedication to service and the community.