Data & Analytics

The most recent iteration of a pricing study conducted by Credit Suisse shows Target was 4.7% more expensive on a basket of items in Chicago and Dallas compared with 4% the prior month. 

Janney Montgomery Scott analyst David Strasser downgraded shares of Target to neutral from buy on Monday. In doing so he cited some familiar concerns about the challenging competitive environment, rising input costs and anticipated difficulties passing through price increases to cash-strapped shoppers thereby negatively affecting gross margins.

Quincy, Mass. -- Stop & Shop Supermarket has opened a store in Andover, Mass., that offers a variety of high-tech shopping solutions, including Check It! self checkout lanes, and Scan It! hand held devices that allow customers to scan and bag groceries while they shop. Customers can also pre-order deli items at designated Order It! kiosks.

Allendale, N.J. -- Video screens delivering marketing messages and other media at the shelf level have been installed in nine Bloom grocery stores in the Washington, D.C., area.

New York City -- Stephen Carvelli, director of eCommerce at Chico’s FAS, was honored as Retail Executive of the Year at the 2011 Oracle Retail Excellence Awards. Carvelli was cited for his advocacy of cross-channel technology and knowledge of how e-commerce technology is applied in retail environments. Chico’s also was honored in the category of “Outstanding Achievement in Customer Experience.”

The awards were announced at the annual Oracle Retail CrossTalk event, held June 21-24, at Westfields Marriott, Washington, D.C.

San Mateo, Calif. -- DemandTec announced that Dollar General Corp. has selected DemandTec's Markdown Optimization, Everyday Price Optimization and Everyday Price Management software services to strategically manage and optimize pricing across its more than 9,500 stores nationwide.

New York City -- Macy’s announced the launch of international shipping on its e-commerce site to 91 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America. The department store retailer is partnering with FiftyOne, a provider of international e-commerce services and infrastructure to U.S. retailers.

The monthly pricing survey Credit Suisse conducts at Walmart stores and various competitors in Chicago and Dallas market reveals the company continues to offer the lowest prices. That’s the good news for consumers; the bad news is Walmart, like every other company, is passing through increased product costs to shoppers.

Walmart attracted nearly 33.6 million unique visitors to its website in May, earning the company the 29th spot on comScore’s monthly ranking of the top 50 U.S. web properties. That sounds like a lot of traffic, but 7th ranked Amazon.com drew nearly three times that level with 94.9 million unique visitors. Other notable, retail-oriented companies and their rank included 13th ranked Apple, with 70.3 million unique visitors, 14th ranked eBay, with 67.2 million unique visitors and 20th ranked Craigslist, with 51.8 million unique visitors.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Finish Line reported that net sales for the first quarter increased 6% to $299.5 million in the first quarter compared with $282.4 million a year ago. Comparable-store sales increased 6.5% in the first quarter on top of an increase of 10.9% for the same period a year ago.