Business Analytics

NEW YORK — Following the recent sale of Walgreens' pharmacy benefit management business, Credit Suisse analysts said they are interested in the executive team's updated thinking on their healthcare strategy and plans for the $550 million in proceeds.

Sam’s Club has installed multiple self-checkout lanes at its club in Bentonville as part of a test that is reportedly limited to three clubs. At the Bentonville location, the two self-checkout lanes are easily identified with a large triangular overhead sign that says, “Self Checkout” Additional signs at the entry to the checkout lane call out the payment process with the words, “scan, pay, go.” Nearby, two additional self-checkout payment terminals are positioned on opposite sides of a table for shoppers with smaller purchases.

New York City -- The Labor Department’s Producer Price Index rose last month, primarily due to higher energy costs and the biggest rise in food prices in 36 years, USA Today reported.

Food prices rose 3.9% last month, the highest increase since November 1974.

The steep rise was due, in large part, to higher vegetable costs, which were up nearly 50%.

Charlotte, N.C. -- Cato Corp.'s fiscal fourth-quarter net income climbed 8% as revenue improved. The company earned $7.9 million, compared with $7.3 million a year earlier.

Sales for the quarter ended January 29, 2011 were $224.3 million, a 3% increase over sales of $217.7 in the year-ago period. Same-store sales increased 1%.

New York City -- The Home Depot has streamlined its in-store hiring process by centralizing it at the corporate level, making the process more uniform across the chain. Potential store hires now go through two reviews at the corporate level before they are even granted an in-person store interview, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported.

To read the full story, go to ajc.com/business/home-depot-centralizes-in-867327.html

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW has announced net income of $18.5 million on net sales of $468.5 million for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 29, compared with net income of $13.4 million on net sales of $402.6 million for the quarter ended Jan. 30, 2010. Same-store sales increased 14.9% for the comparable period versus an increase of 12.9% last year. 

Diluted earnings per share were 41 cents for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 compared with diluted earnings per share of 30 cents last year.

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. -- Sleep Innovations, manufacturer of advanced foam sleep solutions, announced that it has hired Robert West as COO to implement lean manufacturing practices across the enterprise.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- A report released Friday by Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan showed that confidence among U.S. consumers fell more than forecast in March, precipitated by a surge in fuel prices.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 68.2, the lowest in five months, from 77.5 in February. The gauge was projected to decline to 76.3, according to a Bloomberg News survey. The index of expectations plunged to the lowest level since March 2009.