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Lowe’s grew same store sales 7.4% in the fourth quarter and surpassed the high bar Home Depot set the prior day in terms of profitability as well as store expansion.

Sales at Lowes during the period ended Jan. 30, increased 7.6% to $12.5 billion and U.S. same store sales grew 7.4%. Neither the top line or comp number were as large as the 8.3% sales increase and stunning 8.9% comp increase Home Depot generated from its U.S. stores, but Lowe’s managed to grow profits at a quicker pace.

Port Washington, N.Y. – The affinity of Millennial consumers for casual and activewear has resulted in a small boost in apparel, footwear and accessories sales. U.S. consumers spent $323 billion on apparel, footwear, and accessories in 2014, according to The NPD Group.

The 1% increase compared to 2013, resulting in an additional $2 billion in sales, was driven primarily by growth in sales of activewear, athletic performance footwear, and bags.

Toronto – Sears Canada Inc. swung from profit to loss in a dismal fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. The retailer reported a net loss of $123.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to net income of $373.7 million in the same period a year earlier.

The net loss included a pre-tax asset impairment charge of $99.3 million related to leasehold improvements in full-line and Hometown stores, and intangible assets. In addition, the net income a year earlier included several one-time tax gains, real estate sales and legal settlements.

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Staples Inc. is tapping into a new revenue stream by launching a lending program aimed at small businesses.

Staples has launched the Staples Business Loans powered by Lendio service to provide access to capital for small business owners. Staples has teamed up with Lendio, a financial technology firm and small business-lending marketplace, to deliver a suite of funding options.

Staples Business Loans offers more than 20 different funding options and the flexibility for businesses to use the money for whatever their business needs.

New York - Brooks Brothers has expanded its cloud supply chain strategy using the GT Nexus platform. Since 2007, the retailer has used GT Nexus for procurement and settlement processes, and now will leverage that same data and connectivity to extend supply chain visibility, support international growth and reduce costs.

Dillard’s CEO credited an improved assortment and top-notch service with the company’s best sales performance of 2014 in the fourth quarter.

The company reported fourth-quarter net income of $130.5 million, up 9.5% from $119.1 million. Same-store sales rose 3% to $2.136 billion. Dillard's took in $2.18 billion in revenue during the fourth quarter, up from $2.08 billion during the same period last year.

New York -- Atlanta-based The Home Depot reported a strong fourth quarter performance, with sales up 8.3% to $19.2 billion, and fourth quarter net earnings up 36.1% to $1.38 billion.

Comp-store sales for the quarter were positive 7.9%, and positive 8.9% for U.S. stores. Home Depot CEO Craig Menear pointed to a number of factors responsible for the growth.

“We had a strong finish to the year, as strength across the store, the recovering U.S. housing market and solid execution aided our business in 2014,” he said.