Business Analytics

New York City -- Walgreens on Friday reported that its same-store sales rose 3.2% in November. The drugstore operator’s total sales rose 8.6% to $5.83 billion. (Duane Reade stores, acquired in April 2010, contributed 2.8% points to the total sales increase for the month. But those stores are not included in the same-store sales report.)

Meanwhile, Rite Aid Corp. reported that its November same-store sales fell 1.3% due to the introduction of new generic drugs and a decline in prescriptions resulting partly from a milder flu season.

Beaumont, Texas -- Consumer electronics chain Conn's reported Thursday that it narrowed its loss for the quarter ended Oct. 31 to $5.1 million, compared with a $14.4 million loss a year earlier.

Revenue fell 14% to $169.9 million, from $197.5 million. Analysts expected revenue of $167.1 million.

Same-store sales fell 16.3% during the quarter.

Washington, D.C. -- Fewer Americans filed claims for unemployment insurance payments over the past month, indicating some positive movement in the job market.

According to the latest labor department figures, the number of applications for jobless benefits averaged 431,000 a week over the month ended Nov. 27, the lowest level since August 2008. Claims increased by 26,000 last week, more than forecast, to 436,000, after reaching a two-year low.

Chain Store Age recently conducted a survey of leading grocery executives to find out how the industry perceives analytics and how they are using analytics models in key operational areas such as forecasting, price optimization, space planning, and customer marketing.

Reston, Va. -- Online spending on Cyber Monday reached $1.028 billion, up 16% versus a year ago, representing the heaviest online spending day in history and the first to surpass the billion-dollar threshold, according to comScore.

Hudson, Ohio -- Jo-Ann Stores reported net income for its fiscal 2011 third quarter ended Oct. 30, of $29.1 million, up from $24.1 million in the year ago period. The retailer also raised its full-year outlook.

Net sales for the third quarter increased 5.1% to $535.3 million, from $509.1 million last year. Same-store sales increased 4.1%.

Chairman and CEO Darrell Webb said the chain was encouraged by the results in its new and remodeled stores, and was increasing its plan for both new store openings and remodel projects in fiscal 2012.