Predictive Analytics

Atlanta -- A report released Tuesday by First Data Corp. found that, despite tough comps and a late Easter, March 2011 same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations showed a steady uptick.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich.  -- Whirlpool announced that its EVP global product organization, David Szczupak, will be speaking at the fourth Energy Efficiency Global Forum (EE Global) in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. CEST. His presentation will be a part of the opening plenary session and is titled, "Appliances...the Friendly Face of the Smart Grid."

Consumers are using credit more responsibly, according to the latest delinquency data released by Target. The percentage of accounts 60 days and 90 days past due in Target’s credit portfolio experienced meaningful declines during March, and are now at their lowest level in more than two years.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Sales at Rite Aid fell during the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2011, according to financial results announced Thursday.

The 4,714-store retail pharmacy chain had sales of $6.5 billion for fourth quarter 2011, which ended Feb. 26, with a net loss of $205.7 million. Still, that was less than fourth quarter 2010’s loss of $208.4 million. For the fiscal year, sales were $25.2 billion, compared with $25.7 billion in fiscal year 2010. The year saw a net loss of $555.4 million, compared with $506.7 million in 2010.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Aaron’s has formed a partnership with Buxton, a customer analytics firm, to assist with the retailer’s market expansion and analytics strategy.

By Emily Millar, [email protected]

Web-related shopping is growing. Forrester Research predicts U.S. online retail sales will reach nearly $250 billion by 2014 with many more billions to be made from shoppers making in-store purchase decisions that are “web-influenced” first.

Target is scheduled to release monthly sales for March this Thursday, and the company has already indicated its same-store sales figures won’t be pretty due to the late arrival of Easter. The holiday isn’t until April 24 this year, so the bulk of sales related to Easter will occur in April whereas last year Easter fell on April 4, so a greater percentage of seasonal sales fell in March.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Wednesday by The Conference Board said that online advertised vacancies rose 208,800 in March to 4,454,500.

According to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine Data Series, the March rise follows a large January increase and a small change in February, and brings the gain in labor demand in the first quarter of 2011 to over 600,000.

By Chuck Densinger, [email protected] & Mason Thelen [email protected]

Question: Which computer system can provide retailers with unprecedented insight into how to serve their customers better?

Answer: Watson.