Predictive Analytics

Pleasanton, Calif. – Safeway reported a substantial decline in net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as well as a drop in sales. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $8.4 million, compared to $122.7 million in the same quarter a year earlier. However, after adjusting for various legal expenses and loss from discontinued operations, net income for the quarter would have been $125.1 million.

Sales at Scholastic Corp fell sharply during the company’s fourth quarter ended May 31 and most of the drop was blamed on the waning popularity of the Hunger Games trilogy.

The global children's publishing, education and media company said sales declined to $506.9 million in the fourth quarter compared to $676.6 million last year and earnings per share fell to 76 cents from $1.86 last year.

Revenues at eBay increased 14% to $3.9 billion during the second quarter ended June 30 and profits adjusted to exclude the impact of a divested business increased to $822 million, or 63 cents a share, compared to $730 million, or 56 cents a share.

CHICAGO — Retail sales and traffic will increase during the back-to-school season, reflecting a recovering economy, according to ShopperTrak, the world’s largest counter and analyzer of retail traffic.

The company found that national retail sales, when compared to the same period last year, will rise 4.3% in August, and retail foot traffic will increase 0.6%.

LOS ANGELES — Shopzilla, a leading source of sales and consumer feedback for online merchants and retail advertisers, is expanding its footprint with the launch of its new media solutions and audience targeting division Aisle A in Europe, which will offer marketers access to proprietary shopping intent data and evolving premium retail inventory. 

New York -- Two-thirds of gas and convenience mobiles searches use mobile devices exclusively, according to survey results by xAd/Telmetrics.

The 2013 U.S. Mobile Path-to-Purchase Study, conducted by Nielsen, revealed that 85% of search time in the gas and convenience category is spent on a smartphone, with most conducting gas price comparisons/searches.

The category also offers one of the highest mobile conversion rates — nearly 90% — as most mobile users who search for these services are ultimately making a purchase.

Huntington Beach, Calif. -- Retailers are eying mobile devices as the best route to make the most of their digital marketing campaigns.

According to the latest research by Shop.org/Forrester, in the study “The State Of Retailing Online 2013: Marketing & Merchandising,” 87% of online retailers either already have implemented or are planning to implement mobile email optimization in 2013, and seven in 10 will optimize paid search for smartphones and tablets (71% and 73%, respectively).

Chicago – Parents want to buy food and beverages for their kids that are healthy and appeal to the entire family. Results of a new proprietary study from food processing company Cargill show that 89% of parents said they ask their kids to broaden their tastes, and 69% said they ask their kids to try more adult food.