Data & Analytics

How good was the 5.3% same-store sales increase Target reported for September? We know it was toward the upper end of the company’s official guidance that called for a low to mid single-digit gain, but according to Richard Hastings with Global Hunter Securities it was the company’s best showing in September since 2006.

New York City -- Vacancies at U.S. regional shopping malls rose to 9.4% in the third quarter (ended Sept. 30), according to property-research firm Reis, Reuters reported. It represents the highest level since Reis began publishing the data in 2000, and was up from 9.3% in the second quarter.

Landlords' asking mall rents rose to $38.81 per square foot in the third quarter, up from $38.77 in the previous three months and $38.72 a year earlier, according to Reis.

Reston, Va. -- Mobile phones drive digital traffic around the world, but tablets are gaining steam, according to a new report released by ComScore. The report, “Digital Omnivores: How Tablets, Smartphones and Connected Devices are Changing U.S. Digital Media Consumption Habits,” found that smartphones and tablets are driving nearly 7% of total U.S. digital traffic.

Key findings highlighted in the report include:

By Andy Thomas, [email protected]

Schaumberg, Ill. -- Motorola Solutions on Monday announced the first tablet computer built from the ground up specifically for enterprise users, the Android-based ET1. With the first solutions focused on retail, the new tablet will be available in fourth quarter 2011.

Similar in appearance to a consumer tablet, the new ET1 is designed to leverage the sleek design and user experience of a tablet with the applications, durability, security, device management and lifecycle-support needs that are specific to the retail environment.

CINCINNATI — Kroger announced that its annual Honoring Our Heroes fundraising campaign to support the United Service Organizations garnered $1.5 million.

The funds were raised in partnership with customers and associates through a variety of in-store activities at Kroger stores nationwide, as well as online at HonoringOurHeroes.com. Procter & Gamble and Anheuser Busch also participated in the program and contributed $250,000 each in conjunction with special sales programs in Kroger stores.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — HSN is bringing Quick Response (QR) codes to a new shopping frontier by becoming the first retailer to use them on television.

Through Oct. 10 as part of the company's Innovation Weekend event, HSN will debut QR codes on its HD channel, which currently reaches approximately 43 million households. Customers will be able to scan the QR code of hundreds of products, the company said, giving them access the product information page on their mobile device, learn more about the product and purchase with ease.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation said Friday that high unemployment rates remain a concern as retailers head into the holiday season.

Indianapolis -- Marsh Supermarkets said Thursday that it will lower prices on select items in a move to spur sales and loyalty.

The program, called Good ‘Til, launched this month and guarantees that prices on the most popular items won't increase for at least three months even if industry retail prices increase.

The three-month guarantees will be offered four times per year.

New York City -- Although many CFOs have sustainability on their screens, some have yet to fully engage with the new risks – and opportunities – that the "sustainability imperative" presents, according to a survey conducted by Deloitte.

The study, “Sustainable Finance: The risks and opportunities that (some) CFOs are overlooking,” finds there is considerable opportunity for CFOs to shape their companies' strategic responses to sustainability issues.

Among its key findings: