Data & Analytics

New York City -- Barnes & Noble reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Jan. 29 decreased 24.7% to $60.6 million, from $80.4 million a year earlier. Although the chain returned to profitability after three straight quarters in the red, its increase in revenue was lower than expected.

Overall sales were up 6.9% to $2.3 billion. Same-store sales at its namesake stores rose 7.3%; same-store sales at its college bookstore chain dropped 2.2%.

MONROE, Mich. -- La-Z-Boy reported that sales for the third quarter declined 4.3%, partly due to ongoing challenges related to housing and consumer confidence. Net income for the fiscal 2011 third quarter was 19 cents per share, which includes a 6-cent tax benefit, versus 21 cents per share in last year's third quarter.

The retail segment's sales increased 9.2%, and it experienced its eighth consecutive quarterly improvement of operating margin performance compared with the prior year, the company reported.

The retail world takes center stage this week as financial markets are poised to dissect a slew of earnings reports from major retailers who will be sharing details on the profitability of holiday sales, perspective on the state of the economic recovery and the outlook for consumer spending during the remainder of 2011.

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. -- Motorola Mobility Holdings announced that its chairman and CEO, Dr. Sanjay Jha, is scheduled to present at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference  in San Francisco, California.

The live audio webcast will be available at investors.motorola.com. An archived replay will be available on the website approximately three hours after the live event.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — A few years after launching its iFood assistant, a tool for on-the-go users that provides recipes and entertainment tips, Kraft is taking meal planning to the next level.

Teaming up with technology innovator Intel, new Kraft Meal Planning Solutions transforms traditional self-service kiosks into a platform where consumers can obtain recipes, shopping suggestions, promotional coupons and even product samples. The kiosks reportedly also will use facial recognition to determine a consumer's gender and will suggest dinner meal options.

CINCINNATI — Supermarket giant Kroger announced company EVP, Don Becker, died Wednesday after suffering an aneurysm. He was 62 years old.

Walmart earlier this week named Cindy Davis EVP of a newly created global consumer insights business unit. She will be responsible for understanding broad consumer trends world wide and creating advanced analytical tools to support Walmart’s business, a sizeable task considering Walmart’s expanding global empire and the diversity of markets being served.

Walmart Canada has selected DiJiPOP to provide on-demand shopper marketing technology solutions for its e-commerce site and to help power digital shelf space monetization efforts. DiJiPOP’s solution will complement Walmart Canada’s current advertiser program and provide a fully automated platform to more effectively connect brand marketing dollars with digital shelf space while integrating with the retailer’s existing proprietary vendor portal. Doing so will allow suppliers to reserve premium shelf space on the site.

Enterprising television reporters at KGTV in San Diego caused Walmart some grief this week when they uncovered that prices were ringing up incorrectly on some items and customers were not being offered a $3 refund in keeping with a 2008 court order. To watch the video click here or continuing reading.

Seattle -- Nordstrom announced today it has entered into an agreement to acquire HauteLook, a leader in the online private sale marketplace. The company said the acquisition will enable Nordstrom to participate in the fast-growing private sale marketplace and provide a platform to increase innovation and speed in the way it serves customers in all channels.