News

So far so good. The third quarter at Target is off to a solid start as Target reported a 4.1% same-store sales increase that was squarely in the middle of the company’s guidance range, which called for an increase in the low to mid single digits.

New York City -- Walgreens said same-store sales rose 5.6% in August, better than expectations, helped by a calendar day shift.

Same-store front-end sales  rose 4.8%, while same-store pharmacy sales rose 5.2% in August. Overall, net sales rose 7.8%, to $6.1 billion. Total sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, which ended Aug. 31, were $17.94 billion, up 6.4% from the year-ago period.

NEW YORK — Lord & Taylor unveiled a new concept called Lord & Taylor Home on Friday, at Fashion Center shopping center in Paramus, N.J.  A second location, in Shrewsbury, N.J., is expected to open in several weeks. Lord & Taylor is owned by NRDC Equity Partners, which also owns Canada’s Hudson Bay Co.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — The apparel, e-commerce, grocery, and luxury segments all showed continued growth in August, as the hardware, restaurant, and automotive repair sectors returned to positive territory, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, a macroeconomic report tracking national retail and services sales.

NEW YORK — New York Fashion Week has become more than just an opportunity for top designers to showcase their wares to industry insiders, celebrities and others privileged enough to get inside the tents. Fashion Week has become a chance for designers and retailers to bring the latest trends to the masses. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Retail same-store sales held steady with a 4.9% gain in August as retailers reported mostly solid back-to-school results at the same time sales at department stores were hurt by the impact of Hurricane Irene and weaker spending plans by shoppers, Kantar Retail reported on Thursday. However, shoppers plan on reducing their spending over the next few months, the company reported.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens reported that total sales for August were $6.1 billion, an increase of 7.8% from $5.66 billion for the same month in 2010. Total front-end sales increased 6.8% in August, while comparable store front-end sales increased 4.8%. Customer traffic in comparable stores increased 2.5% and basket size increased 2.3%.

Walgreens said Hurricane Irene had no significant net effect on total sales.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has never shied away from supporting causes he believes in. But he has really gone on the offensive with his latest passions: political gridlock and the jobs crisis.