News

NEW YORK — Sears and Kmart stores announced that they are supporting emergency relief efforts in a dozen states to help residents recover from Hurricane Irene’s damaging winds and floodwaters.

Sears and Kmart stores will offer discounts on recovery items in stores throughout Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Key discounts include:

Kmart:

New York City -- Despite low consumer confidence, the volatile economy and a hurricane, many retailers reported better-than-expected sales in August. Hurricane Irene appeared to put a dent in the results of some retailers on the East Coast, but the storm did not appear to do as serious damage as some expected.

Total retail sales rose 4.4%, just missing the 4.6% rise that Wall Street analysts had expected, according to Thomson Reuters. Of the 19 out of the 25 retailers that Thomson Reuters tracks, 11 beat expectations.

NEW YORK — Macy’s reported that its same-store sales rose 5% in August, beating estimates. The retailer said sales would have been higher by 1.5% points without the impact of Hurricane Irene. Industry analysts had warned that the storm would impact department stores and specialty retailers the most as consumers focused on buying generators and other emergency and recovery items versus back-to-school and discretionary products.

New York City -- Terry Lundgren, CEO of Macy’s, has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York board of directors.

Lundgren was appointed a class B director starting Aug. 31 for the unexpired porting of a three-year term ending Dec. 11, serving the remainder of GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt’s CEO term.
 

MINNEAPOLIS — The first month of Target’s third quarter is off to a solid start as the company reported a 4.1% same-store sales increase squarely in the middle of guidance that called for a low to mid single-digit gain.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us annonced that in honor of Halloween it is opening dedicated in-store "spook"tiques offering a broad assortment of costumes and accessories, safety gear, candy and more. The retailer said it will also host a special trick-or-treat event in its stores nationwide on Saturday, Oct. 29.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and Sam's Club are offering flu shots clinics to customers through their partnership with Mollen Immunization Clinics.

AUSTIN — Retailer Whole Foods is continuing its foray into the health-and-wellness realm.