Data & Analytics

Washington, D.C. -- Supervalu has joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, which aims to engage building operators nationwide in improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. The announcement was made by President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton during a leadership event attended by Craig Herkert, Supervalu chief executive officer and president, in Washington, D.C.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Walmart is looking to help holiday shoppers find the perfect gift this season with the launch of a new social shopping application.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — The nation’s leading warehouse club operator maintained its momentum in November by posting a 6% increase in same-store sales at U.S. clubs excluding the beneficial effect of higher year-over-year gas prices.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Comps continue to improve at Pier 1 Imports, thanks to increased traffic and average ticket size. The company reported that comparable-store sales for the third quarter increased 7%. This was on top of a 10.2% comps increase in the prior-year period. Total sales for the quarter increased 8.2% to $383 million compared with $354 million in the year-ago quarter.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target reported November same-store sales increased 1.8%, which was toward the low end of the company’s guidance that called for an increase in the low to mid single-digit range.

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Kroger posted its 32nd consecutive of same-store sales gains as the grocer continues to grab market share due to a combination of a customer service initiative and value pricing.

A funny thing happened on the way to Costco reporting a 6% increase in November same-store sales.

The warehouse club operator noted that sales in the electronics area increased in the high single digits and, in a reversal of prior year trends, attributed the gain to higher average selling prices as opposed to strong unit volume. In fact, unit volumes of televisions declined, but the drop was offset by strong sales of pricey big screen LED models as opposed to the prior year when sales were still dominated by LCD and plasma models that were experiencing deflationary pricing.

Purchase, N.Y. -- Sales growth was strong across most retail sectors in November, with early promotional activities and additional hours giving Black Friday sales, which traditionally account for 6%-7% of November’s total sales, a boost, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, a macroeconomic report tracking national retail sales.

Among the sectors that saw an increased growth rate during November was luxury, which saw its third consecutive month of strong year-over-year growth and its second in the double digits.

Cincinnati -- Kroger Co. on Thursday raised its full-year forecast and also projected earnings growth for its next fiscal year that was ahead of long-term goals even as its profit slipped 2% in the third quarter.

The chain reported profit of $195.9 million profit for the quarter ended Nov. 5, down from $202.2 million a year earlier. Still, its results topped Wall Street expectations.

Los Angeles -- Guess Inc. said Wednesday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 29 fell 4% as the clothing company's tax rate increased. The chain reported net income of $66.3 million, compared with $69.1 million in the year-ago period. The company's effective tax rate rose to 32.3% during the quarter from 29.1% a year earlier. As a result, the incomes taxes Guess paid rose 5% to $31.9 million.