Data & Analytics

PHILADELPHIA — Urban Outfitters announced net income of $39 million, or earnings per diluted share of 23 cents for the first quarter ended April 30, compared with net income of $53 million, or earnings per diluted share of 31 cents.

Total company net sales rose by 9% over the same quarter last year to $524 million. Comparable retail segment net sales, which includes direct-to-consumer channels, decreased 1% for the quarter while comparable store net sales decreased 5% for the quarter. 

New York City -- Falling real wages and rising jobless claims in April contributed to largest single month drop in the Deloitte Consumer Spending Index since November 2007. The Index, which tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending, fell to 3.16% from an upwardly revised gain of 3.78% a month ago.

New York City -- Retailers have plenty of challenges to overcome when it comes to shoppers using smartphones for shopping, with awkward usability (49%), credit-card security (36%) and connection speeds (31%) topping the list, according to a survey by the e-tailing group.

Newport Beach, Calif. -- JustEnough Software Corp., a provider of demand management solutions, announced that ABC Fine Wine & Spirits has successfully gone live with its allocation and replenishment solutions. The technologies were selected to replace the retailer’s existing allocation system.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe's Cos. said Monday its first-quarter profit fell 6%, due in part by bad weather and difficult economic conditions. The chain cut its full-year outlook.

Lowe's reported net income of $461 million for the three months ended April 29, down from $489 million a year earlier. Its results missed estimates. Revenue fell 2% to $12.19 billion. Same-store sales were down 3.3%.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Co. reported Monday that its first-quarter net income rose 6.7% amid cost-cutting and improved sales. The department store chain also raised its full-year earnings profit guidance.

The company on Monday reported net income of $64 million for the three months ended April 30, up from $60 million in the same period last year.

By Paul Bridgewater, [email protected]

Consumers remain skittish. Despite recent positive economic signs, the latest Gallup U.S. consumer spending report shows that routine daily expenditures at restaurants, gas stations and online stores are still down from their 2008 highs, falling to $58 per day in January 2011, versus $97 for the same month three years earlier.

Many Walmart shoppers happen to be NASCAR fans, so it makes sense that the retailer would host exclusive events around big races in key markets.

In Charlotte, N.C., and Dover, Del., select Walmart stores will offer customers the chance to check out racing simulator machines and stock car displays and enjoy special driver appearances throughout the month of May.

Turns out Shakespeare’s famous line, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” doesn’t quite fit with every scenario. Case in point, Wal-Mart Stores, which, according to Millward Brown Optimor’s BrandZ ranking of the top 20 global retail brands, saw its brand value diminish when it decided to rename its Wal-Mart stores, Walmart. 

Walmart acquired a minority interest in Chinese e-commerce company Yihaodian, the company announced Friday morning. Yihaodian was launched in July 2008 and currently offers 75,000 products and next-day delivery on essential items from an existing logistics network in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.