News

Washington, D.C. -- Import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to drop 8.4% in February from the same time last year as the shipping cycle reaches its slowest month of the year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Counterfeiting and brand theft are crimes that have been given unlimited new life and opportunity online — they affect all industries and all major brands on a global scale. Recently the watchdog agency Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) put a $1 trillion annual figure on global losses from counterfeiting and piracy, with 2.5 million jobs put at risk.

CVS Caremark’s fourth-quarter results came in at the high end of expectations and helped produce a record year; however, one of the key topics analysts discussed was the company’s recent decision to stop selling tobacco products in all its stores by Oct. 1.

New York – Aeropostale Inc. is reportedly considering trying to raise private equity capital. According to Reuters, four anonymous sources said Aeropostale is working with the investment bank Barclays plc to consider options including private equity capital as well as a sale of the company.

Continued positive sales momentum in its business and an increase in foot traffic increase at its stores fueled 99 Cents Only Stores’ third-quarter results.

The company's net sales increased 11% to $487.9 million from $439.5 million for the prior-year quarter. Same-store sales increased 3%.  

Washington, D.C. – The National Retail Federation (NRF) is applauding a decision by the Treasury and IRS to delay implementation of some employer requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) until 2015 and eliminate other requirements for small businesses.

Residents of the Washington, D.C., metro area can now have products ordered from supermarket operator Harris Teeter delivered within the hour following Instacart’s entry into the market.

Instacart’s network of personal shoppers began delivering items ordered from Harris Teeter on Feb. 11. The service provider expects to add other retailers in the coming weeks which would allow shoppers to combine items from multiple stores in a single order and have them delivered in as little as one hour.

Woonsocket, R.I. – CVS Caremark reported strong performance in both earnings and revenues for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2014. The chain also raised its guidance for the first quarter.

CVS said net income during the quarter ended Dec. 31,2014, rose 12.5% to $1.26 billion from $1.12 billion in the year-ago quarter. For the full year, income rose 19% to $4.59 billion, from $3.86 billion.