News

New York -- Consumer spending rose 0.8% in February, the Commerce Department said Friday. It was the biggest increase since July. However, the increase came as Americans' income barely grew, and the saving rate fell to its lowest point in more than two years.

Some of the higher spending last month reflected rising gas prices. But even after excluding inflation, which was due mainly to gas prices, spending rose a solid 0.5%.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Nothing is slowing down Dollar General, which, shortly after reporting surging quarterly sales and profits, announced that it will open its 10,000th store in the United States. The store will be located in Merced, Calif., and is one the company's first stores in California.

NEW YORK — Whole Foods Market is leading charge to promote the sale of sustainable seafood by becoming the first national grocer to stop selling red-rated seafood. The company announced that, beginning this Earth Day (April 22), it will no longer carry red-rated, wild-caught fish in its seafood departments. 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Mass merchandise chain Meijer has acquired a Michigan-based dairy, the company said.

Meijer announced the purchase of Bareman's Dairy, a family-owned company based in Holland, Mich., and the intention of investing more than $8 million into expansion of the plant.

New York -- Michaels Stores Friday confirmed that it is has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock. According to the filing, the company proposed to raise $500 million in the IPO. The number of shares to be sold and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined.

IRVING, Texas — After much speculation, Michaels Stores Friday confirmed that it is has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock. According to the filing, the company proposed to raise $500 million in the IPO. The number of shares to be sold and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined.

Walmart chief merchandising officer Duncan Mac Naughton was back in Canada earlier this week at the CIBC World Markets Retail and Consumer Conference in Toronto sharing a message of improved traction and accelerating momentum.

Walmart SVP talent development Celia Swanson has been added to the roster of speakers for the NWA Business Women’s Conference on Sept. 11 hosted by the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce. Swanson joined Sam’s Club with the Pace membership club acquisition in 1994 as the senior director of the people group. She served as VP of the people group at Sam’s until 1997 when she was promoted to run membership, marketing and administration. She was named EVP in 2000, assumed leadership of change management in 2005 and moved to her current role in 2009.