Data & Analytics

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Walmart Foundation and Goodwill have teamed up to provide single mothers with all the tools they need to find employment, succeed in the workplace and permanently support their families. The Walmart Foundation's grant of $2.5 million will support the program, known as Beyond Jobs, at Goodwill agencies in the five key markets of Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles County, Detroit, and New York City, through 2012.

Indianapolis -- Appliance and electronics retailer Hhgregg reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Dec. 31 rose 18.4% to $26.9 million, compared with $22.7 million in the year-ago period.

Net sales increased 30.6% to $653.7 million. Same-stores dropped 6.2%.

Vancouver, British Columbia -- Scala and 10net Managed Solutions announced Tuesday the installation of their digital-signage solution at the first HP Store in Canada. 

Located in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, The HP Store Vancouver features experience pods and an HP digital-signage display at the checkout consisting of three side-by-side 47-inch LCD HP LD4700 screens mounted on a curved wall and powered by an HP Z400 Workstation.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve said that U.S. consumer borrowing rose in December for a third consecutive month, led by the first increase in credit-card charges in more than two years as holiday sales improved.

Cary, N.C. -- C-store operator The Pantry said Tuesday that it narrowed its loss for the quarter ended Dec. 30 to $12.2 million, compared with a loss of $26.1 million a year earlier.

Merchandise same-store sales increased 1.3% for the quarter.

The Pantry operates 1,662 stores in 13 states primarily under the Kangaroo Express banner.
 

Oak Brook, Ill. -- McDonald's Corp. reported Tuesday that global same-store sales increased 5.3% in January, comprised of a 3.1% rise in the United States, a 7% increase in Europe and a 5.2% increase in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

Systemwide sales increased 7.4%, or 6.7% in constant currencies, for the month.
 

PLANO, Texas -- JCPenney announced that it has rolled out its findmore smart fixture to over 120 select stores across the country. Additionally, in conjunction with the launch of its Modern Bride concept, the company will begin rolling out a findmore experience using iPad to 50 fine jewelry departments.

DEERFIELD, Ill. -- David Gregory, host of NBC's "Meet the Press," will deliver the keynote address at BNP Media's Food Safety Summit on April 20.

CHICAGO  -- Element14, a collaborative engineering community and electronics store for design engineers and electronics enthusiasts, announced that Jeri Ellsworth has joined its "ask an expert" panel to further promote the exchange of ideas among professionals, enthusiasts, and DIYers alike within the community. Ellsworth is also offering the element14 community early access to her latest video tutorial, which looks at designing a circuit that triggers sound effects, music and mechanical animation through motion.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Whole Foods announced that it is providing shoppers with a new level of transparency about how farm animals are raised by now offering beef, pork and chicken certified under 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating system.

The rating system is the signature program of Global Animal Partnership, a nonprofit organization that facilitates and encourages continuous improvement in animal agriculture. Independent, third-party certifiers audit farms and rate animal welfare practices and conditions using a tiered system as follows: