News

New York City -- After five consecutive months of year-over-year declines, overall average tickets grew 0.4% in November, after declining 1.7% in October, according to  First Data. The company’s SpendTrend analysis for November 2010 includes same-store consumer spending via credit, signature debit, PIN debit and EBT cards at U.S. merchant locations, which are compared with November 2009.

MINNEAPOLIS - Target announced its commitment to sustainability and outlined goals it hopes to achieve over the next five years. Target's commitments to environmental sustainability, along with more on Target's sustainability efforts, are available at hereforgood.target.com/environment, the company reported.

Chicago -- Year-over-year GAFO retail sales increased a slight 2.3% or the week ending Dec. 4, according to ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate (NRSE), while the company’s Retail Traffic Index (SRTI) reported foot traffic remained flat for the same period.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp.'s profit climbed 18% in its first fiscal quarter, buoyed by sales from its consolidated Mexican operations and improved sales and traffic at its U.S. stores. Net income rose to $312 million for the period ended Nov. 21, up from $266 million a year earlier.

The results topped analysts' average forecasts.

Revenue rose 11% to $19.24 billion from $17.3 billion, also beating Wall Street's expectation.

Ankeny, Iowa -- Casey's General Stores reported on Wednesday that the costs of its recapitalization plan and its defense against hostile bids by competitor Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard take a bite out of its second-quarter net income.

Casey's said it earned $21.7 million for the quarter that ended Oct. 31, compared with $33.6 million in the same quarter last year. The results include roughly $19.4 million in expenses related to its recapitalization plan and the dispute with Couche-Tard.

New York City -- More than $17.5 billion has been spent online for the November-December 2010 holiday season to donate , marking a 12% increase versus the corresponding days last year, comScore reported on Wednesday.

Houston -- Men's Wearhouse said Tuesday that higher sales lifted its third-quarter profit by 31%, but its forecast for the fourth quarter missed Wall Street's expectations.

Net income rose to $25.3 million in the three months ended Oct. 30, from $19.3 million a year earlier. Revenue increased 19% to $550.1 million, from $462 million in the previous year. Tuxedo rental revenue rose 13% and accounted for more than 20% of the company's quarterly total. Other clothing sales climbed 22% in the quarter.