News

Washington, D.C. -- Tuesday’s report by the U.S. Department of Commerce showed a fifth straight month of sales gains in November for U.S. retailers. Monthly retail sales figures for November were up 0.8% over October and 7.7% over November 2009.

Retail sales excluding auto sales were up 1.2% over the previous month and 6.7% over November 2009.

Department stores were the big November winners, recording the biggest sales rise in two years of 2.8%.

San Francisco -- A report Monday by Associated Press said that Walgreen Co., McDonald's and Twitter each reported unrelated security breaches, involving customer e-mail addresses and other private information.

Walgreen said hackers who gained access to a list of customer e-mail addresses may have sent spam directing customers to enter personal data into outside websites.

Cincinnati -- A survey released Monday by Convergys said that many consumers have yet to complete their holiday shopping -- and many of those will do that shopping online.

According to Convergys’ 2010 Holiday Shopping Season Research, which polled 500+ consumers on their holiday shopping plans; 18% of consumers have already completed their holiday shopping; but 27% have not yet started; and 50% are only half done.

Cary, N.C. -- C-store chain The Pantry reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Sept. 30 dropped to $8.5 million, compared with $12.5 million in the year-ago period.

Merchandise revenue for the fourth quarter increased 12% overall and 5.7% on a same-store basis from last year’s fourth quarter.

Chicago -- According to a survey released Monday by CareerBuilder and conducted by Harris Interactive, 80% of retail companies report that a bad hire has adversely affected their business in the last year, meaning that hiring the right employees will become a top priority in 2011.

Nearly one-quarter (23%) of the 254 U.S. retail hiring managers surveyed said that one bad hire cost their business more than $50,000 in the last year. One-third (33%) said that one bad hire cost them more than $25,000.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co. reported an unexpected decline in fiscal third-quarter profit Tuesday, as lower demand for televisions and videogames led to a sales shortfall in the United States. The chain cut its full-year forecast.

Best Buy Co. said that its third-quarter net income fell 4% to $217 million, while revenue fell 1% to $11.89 billion. Same-store sales fell 3.3%. Results missed Wall Street projections.

Best Buy said it has cut its full-year outlook, as it faces stepped-up competition from online and discount stores.

WAYNE, N.J. - Toys“R”Us reported that net sales for the third quarter were $2.7 billion, an increase of 1.9% compared with prior year, due to new locations including Toys“R”Us Express stores as well as comparable-store net sales growth of 2.3% in the domestic segment and a foreign currency translation benefit of $17 million. These increases were partially offset by a decline of 2.9% in comparable-store net sales in the international segment.

OAKLAND, Calif. - Cost Plus confirmed that it is conducting a merchandising test with Bed Bath & Beyond involving its consumables products in three Bed Bath & Beyond stores located in San Diego, California; Totowa, New Jersey and Elmsford, New York. 

For the third quarter the company reported a same-store sales increased 8.8%. Net loss for the quarter was $8.3 million, a $13.7 million improvement.

NEW YORK - Home improvement expert Bob Vila announced the redesign of BobVila.com, which now offers digitized TV episodes and new home-related content that is easy to navigate, view and use.