News

Armonk, N.Y. -- An analysis released Thursday by IBM projected that retail sales are positioned for increases across a broad spectrum of categories.

According to the study, the surge will be led by a projected 8.2% rise in men’s apparel sales.

“The forecast of men’s apparel sales reflects a growing trend: men are definitely developing a taste for fashion – especially in business attire,” said Jill Puleri, global retail leader for IBM Global Business Services.

Consistent with Walmart’s drive toward every day low prices, January saw the company run fewer, but larger advertising inserts, according to the latest information from marketing intelligence firm Market Track. To see how Walmart’s advertising activity stacked up to other top retailers, click here.

NEW YORK — The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index, released Thursday, continued downward in January and consumer spending will face additional economic headwinds in 2012, according to Deloitte. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.

PHILADELPHIA — Urban Outfitters' performance in the fourth quarter indicate that while consumers may still enjoy its trendy products, they aren't going to its stores to get them.

The company reported that comparable-store net sales decreased 1% for the quarter. However, direct-to-consumer comparable-net sales increased 14%. Combined combarable-retail-segment net sales increased 2% for the quarter. Total sales for the quarter rose 9% to $731 million.

For the year ended Jan. 31, total net sales increased to $2.5 billion.

New York City -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index, released Thursday, continued downward in January and consumer spending will face additional economic headwinds in 2012, according to Deloitte. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — In time for the upcoming Olympic Games in London, Spalding has snagged Misty May-Treanor, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the current no. 1-ranked American volleyball player in the world, for a long-term marketing, licensing and promotional agreement with the brand.

New York City -- The Jones Group reported a net loss of $21.1 million in the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with $40.1 million a year earlier.

Fourth-quarter revenue totaled $893.6 million, which was in line with analysts' expectations but lower than the company's earlier forecast.

New York City -- Genpact, a leader in business process and technology management, announced the transition services started in 2011 have been completed and IT Help Desk production support services are now fully operational as of Jan. 1, 2012 with Dollar General Corp.