Data & Analytics

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco has started the summer right, reporting sales of $9.92 billion for the month of June, the five-week period ended July 7, an 8% increase over the same period last year. 

For the 44-week period that ended Sunday, sales were $87.05 billion, also an 8% increase over the same period last year. For the month and the 44-week period, same-store sales rose 6%.

Los Angeles -- CBRE Group Inc. has made two research appointments.

First, Nick Axford, Ph.D., will move up to Global Head of Research, a new position, from CBRE’s Asia Pacific business unit. He will manage global research efforts, establish strategies that support CBRE objectives and serve as a resource for clients on global commercial real estate trends.

In addition, Raymond Torto, Ph.D. will become global chairman of CBRE Research. He will analyze market trends for clients.

New York -- Bloomberg reported that Best Buy Co. has increased the size of its first bond offering since 2011 from $350 million to $500 million as it prepares to repay an equal amount of notes due July 15.

According to the report, who cited an unidentified source, the five-year securities may yield 5%; proceeds may be used to refinance debt, fund working capital or repurchase stock.

Akron, Ohio -- Kay Jewelers said it has teamed with wedding site The Knot to launch an interactive wedding ring style quiz on Facebook.

As part of the promotion, consumers visit The Knot or Kay Jewelers on Facebook and answer questions about personal style and wedding ring preferences. Once complete, participants will receive their wedding ring personality types along with brand suggestions, and will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a pair of wedding bands from Kay.

By Niclas Qvist, Pricer

LOS ANGELES — PriceGrabber, a division of CPL Holdings, has appointed Jeff Goldstein as president. In his new role Goldstein will direct strategy and oversee the day-to-day operations of the business. 

London -- Wm Morrison Supermarkets said Thursday it will have the technology systems, online presence and c-store counts by 2015 to significantly close the gap on its closest competitors.

Britain’s No. 4 grocer trails Tesco, Wal-Mart's Asda and J Sainsbury in annual sales. Its CEO Dalton Philips is optimistic about the chain’s ability to compete. “I've only been here three years,” he told Bloomberg. “There was no plan for online, there was no plan for convenience and we had systems, which were 20th century.”

Redmond, Wash. -- In an internal email to all employees, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced a sweeping internal realignment he said will build upon a strategy launched last year to bring Microsoft more fully into the devices and services market.

The company will reduce emphasis on its traditional strong point of consumer and business software, such as the Windows OS and Office suite of desktop applications, and focus more on computing devices such as Xbox and Surface and on services delivered to mobile device users.