News

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot reported a first quarter loss of $5.4 million, down from a profit of $29.5 million in the prior-year period, amid weaker sales and a higher tax rate.

Total company sales for the quarter were $2.97 billion, down 3% from last year.

New York City -- Speaking at the Barclays Capital analyst conference in New York City on Tuesday, Kroger Co. chairman and CEO David Dillon said grocery prices are rising slightly. He also said the chain may benefit from rising fuel prices because the discounts it offers on gasoline could attract more shoppers.

Grocery prices have gone up approximately 2%, Dillon said, in what he called "the low side of moderate" inflation, since late last year as suppliers deal with higher commodity and energy costs, the Associated Press reported.

MINNEAPOLIS  -- Target announced that it will adopt green refrigeration technologies in its stores as part of its new membership in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) GreenChill program. 

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif.  -- Retailers have been taking advantage of the much-anticipated "Royal Wedding" to promote their own wedding services, but one of the more surprising of the bunch is 99 Cents Only Stores, which used the hoopla around the upcoming union of Prince William and Kate Middleton to announce the launch of its "Bridal Registry" for couples.

DALLAS -- Tuesday Morning cut its losses and posted a slight same-store sales increase for its fiscal third quarter, as the company heads toward profitability. The company reported a net loss for the quarter of $3.6 million, or 8 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $4.3 million, or 10 cents per share, for the same period last year.

By Jason Pierson

New York City -- Coach's third-quarter net income increased 18% amid higher demand in North America, which helped offset an estimated $20 million hit to its revenue from Japan's tsunami and earthquake. Same-store sales in North America rose 10.3%. Analysts said Coach’s results offered further proof that spending by affluent shoppers is back on track and rising faster than other segments.

Net income rose to $186 million for the three months that ended April 2, up from $157.6 million a year earlier. Revenue rose nearly 15% to $950.7 million.

Elmsford, N.Y. -- Party City Holdings, parent company of Amscan Holdings, has filed an initial public offering of $350 million of common stock as it raises funds to pay down debt.

It intends to list under the symbol PRTY. Current stockholders are also likely to sell shares alongside Party City in the IPO.