Data & Analytics

Chicago — A report released by Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle found that the retail sector is edging toward recovery driven by growth in job market, gains in corporate profits and improvements in credit markets.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle’s North America Mid-Year Retail Outlook, the environment is still not without risk as rising fuel costs and a continued weak housing market, coupled with an increasingly volatile global geopolitical climate, continue to slow retail recovery as consumers remain tentatively cautious. 

The warehouse club channel remains one of the hottest segments in retail as evidenced by the solid third-quarter results Costco reported earlier this week on the heels of the equally solid first-quarter results Sam’s Club reported last week.

Although the company’s operate on different fiscal years, the quarterly periods are comparable with only one week separating Costco’s May 8 third-quarter end date from Sam’s Club’s April 30 end date.

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Panasonic Corporation of North America has appointed Betty Noonan to lead its marketing and branding functions. Noonan, who was most recently VP and director of Kodak's worldwide consumer marketing operations, will be responsible for integrating the company's marketing and enhancing the Panasonic brand.  

Optimism about economic expansion is on the rise among senior finance executives in the United States and around the rest of the globe, according to the annual American Express/CFO Research Global Business & Spending Monitor.  In fact, the level of optimism was the highest in the four years that the survey has been conducted, with three in four (75%) executives expecting modest to strong economic expansion over the next twelve months -- up from 71% in 2010. The U.S. figure was even higher at 79%, although most predict modest growth.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Hasbro announced that it is reorganizing its global games business and moving its games marketing and games development employees from East Longmeadow, Mass. to Rhode Island. 

Anaheim, Calif. — Pacific Sunwear of California announced that net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 were $186 million, a decrease of 2% from net sales of $190 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Total company same-store sales increased 1% during the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

The company reported a net loss of $31 million, or 48 cents per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to a net loss of $31 million, or 47 cents per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

Dallas — Alliance Data Systems Corp., a provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced it has signed a long-term extension agreement with Victoria’s Secret, a subsidiary of Limited Brands, Inc., to provide private-label credit card services.

terms of the extension, Alliance Data will continue to provide end-to-end private-label credit card services for the Victoria’s Secret credit card from account acquisition to customer service.

Pittsburgh — American Eagle Outfitters net income more than doubled as the company cut costs to offset a sales decline. Net income for the three months ended April 30 rose to $28.3 million from $10.9 million last year. Its results met analyst expectations.

Revenue decreasded 6% to $609.6 million,less than expected. Same-store sales fell 8%.