Data & Analytics

WASHINGTON — Pamela Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, has announced the appointment of Jennifer Kaleda as VP industry affairs, operational effectiveness.

BENTON HARBOR — Whirlpool Corp. is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a number of local events and recognition of employees throughout the world.

NEW YORK — Further proof that the sluggish economy is affecting higher-income households much less than lower-income households can be found in the quarterly profits of Dillard's and Nordstrom's, which both reported earnings this week.

Dillard’s Inc. reported Friday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 29 soared a record 85% to $26.6 million, compared with $14.4 million in the year-ago period. Strong comps and contained expenses propelled the strong performance.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — A strong earnings and sales performance during its fiscal second quarter gave 99 Cents Only Stores the confidence to raise its full year guidance and become more aggressive with store growth. The company reported that total retail sales increased 9% to $352.2 million and same-store sales increased 6.7% for the second quarter. Consolidated net income increased by $2.2 million to $15.1 million or 21 cents per diluted share, versus $12.9 million in the prior year, or 18 cents per diluted share

ROANOKE, Va. — Advance Auto Parts is raising its full year EPS outlook following an impressive 37% increase in third quarter earnings. According to Mike Norona, EVP and CFO, the company now expects its annual 2011 EPS outlook to be $4.90 to $4.95. For the third quarter, the cmpany reported that earnings per diluted share were $1.41 compared with $1.03 for the same period last year.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Jennifer Lopez' and Marc Anthony's split had little impact on sales of their respective brands at Kohl's, which reported its third-quarter results Thursday. According to Kevin Mansell, Kohl’s chairman, president and CEO, "the launch of [the] Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony brands during the quarter met [the company's] aggressive sales plans."

MINNEAPOLIS — Target, along with The Heart of America Foundation, The Mission Continues and hundreds of volunteers,  announced that it will celebrate the unveiling of newly renovated libraries at Jack Kimbrough Elementary in San Diego on Nov. 10, and Camp Allen Elementary in Norfolk, Va. on Nov. 11. The unveiling events will honor Veterans Day and mark the conclusion of the 2011 Target School Library Makeover program, which included the transformation of 42 elementary school libraries.

Seattle -- Nordstrom Inc. reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 29 rose 6.7% to $127 million, compared with $119 million in the year-ago period.

Net sales rose 14.2% to $2.4 billion, surpassing Wall Street’s expected $2.35 billion and up from $2.1 billion a year earlier.  Same-store sales climbed 7.9%.

The company opened two full-line department stores – in Nashville and St. Louis -- and nine Nordstrom Rack stores during the quarter.
 

New York City -- Deloitte’s 26th annual holiday survey of consumer spending intentions and trends, released Thursday, found that nearly half (48%) of consumers say they most likely will shop for gifts online this holiday season – a 13% increase from last year. 

This makes the Internet the No.1 shopping destination, now tied with discount stores, for the first time since adding the channel to Deloitte’s annual study.

Atlanta -- A report released Thursday by First Data Corp., which tracks same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations, found that, in October, dollar volume growth held steady at 9.4% versus September’s growth of 9.5%.

Overall transaction growth improved to 7.5% in October from 7.1% in September. Inflation continued to be evident in the food sector as Food/Beverage Stores posted average ticket growth of 2.3% for the second consecutive month.