Data & Analytics

Washington, D.C. -- The Conference Board, in its monthly sentiment index released on Wednesday, said that confidence among U.S. consumers dropped in June for a fourth consecutive month, reaching a five-month low.

The research firm’s sentiment index fell to 62, from a revised 64.4 in May. The slide in confidence raises the risk that the recently revealed slowdown in hiring will cause households to curb spending.

The median forecast of 69 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News projected the U.S. confidence index would fall to 63.

New York -- A study released Wednesday by Deloitte found that smartphones – which already influence 5.1% of all retail store sales in the United States – are expected to impact 19% of total store sales, amounting to $689 billion, by 2016.

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. — Virtual Piggy, a provider of a technology platform that allows children to shop online in a parent-controlled environment, has formed agreements with sports retailers Spyder Surf and Tahoe Mountain Sports.

Bellevue, Wash. -- Coinstar Inc. said Monday it has completed its $100 million acquisition of DVD rental kiosks and other assets from rival NCR Corp.
 
Under the terms of the deal, Coinstar will buy products and services from NCR. According to Coinstar, the addition of the kiosks will allow its Redbox DVD rental kiosks to expand to new retail partners.
 

Minneapolis -- A just-released report from the Wall Street Journal said that Best Buy founder Richard Schulze, who resigned his chairman of the board seat earlier this month, may be looking into buying out the company.

Schulze is said to be working with bankers from Credit Suisse. At the time of his resignation as chairman, he owned approximately 20% of the company.
 

Seattle — Former Nordstrom executive, Loretta Soffe, has joined the advisory board of Zoomingo, which creates shopping discovery apps that help consumers find the best sales in their local stores anywhere in the nation.

Soffe spent 24 years at Nordstrom in buying, merchandising and product development. For the last 10 years, she served as EVP, general merchandise manager of women's, the largest division in the company with annual sales of $2.0 billion.

By Nancy Chisholm, [email protected]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Mattel has renamed its design center at its Southern California headquarters the Handler Team Center in honor of founders Ruth and Elliot Handler.

PITTSBURGH — The Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation, quarterback Drew Brees and imPACT for PACE (Protecting Athletes through Concussion Education) have joined forces to help educate athletes at all levels of the dangers of concussions.

BELLEVUE, Wash. and GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General is offering customers a broader variety of prepaid mobile services through a new agreement with T-Mobile. Beginning in July, more than 6,400 Dollar General stores will offer numerous T-Mobile prepaid plan options and the Samsung t139 phone, which features messaging, web browsing, a camera and Bluetooth connectivity.