Growth Slowing In Home Remodeling In 2015

January 15, 2015 As the broader housing market continues its sluggish recovery, growth in home improvement spending is also expected to soften throughout the coming year, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.  The LIRA projects annual… Read more »

Remodelers Optimistic About Market Improvement

January 15, 2015 The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a record high result of 60 in the final quarter of 2014.  A reading of 60 indicates remodelers’ confidence in the quarter-over-quarter improvement in the remodeling market. An RMI above 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is higher… Read more »

Target To Exit Canada

January 15, 2015 Just six months after being named chairman and CEO of Target, Brian Cornell is pulling the plug on the retailer’s 133 unit Canadian operation and will incur a $5.4 billion pre-tax loss in the fourth quarter to do so. Target said it plans to discontinue operating stores in Canada through its indirect… Read more »

Retailers Announce Store Closures for 2015

Many retailers have followed up their holiday 2014 sales results with announcements of store closings. Analysts believe these announcements are just the beginning of a “retail earthquake hitting America”. “Because of the changes in buying habits of U.S. consumers, as a result of the continuing hesitancy to spend, the 2014 holiday season was not sufficiently… Read more »

Shoppers Push Holiday Sales Up 4%

January 14, 2015 Confident consumers stocked up on gifts and other merchandise over the 2014 holiday season, helping boost overall holiday retail sales to their highest level since 2011. According to the National Retail Federation, December retail sales, which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, decreased 0.9% seasonally adjusted month-to-month, and 4.6% unadjusted year-over-year.  The… Read more »

Stage Stores Reports Positive Holiday Sales

Stage Stores, who operate under store banners such a Beall’s, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles and Stage, offers moderately priced brand name apparel, accessories, cosmetics and footwear. They are reporting a strong holiday sales season for 2014. Official fourth quarter and full year 2014 results will be reported March 3, but Stage is reporting same store… Read more »

Retailers Added 2,000 Jobs In December, Bringing Total To 176,000 In 2014

January 9, 2015 Retail industry employment increased by 2,000 jobs in December as healthy hiring gains in general merchandise and sporting goods stores were offset by declines in clothing and furniture stores, the National Retail Federation said today.  Retail employment for 2014 climbed by 176,000 jobs over the year before, according to NRF’s calculations, which… Read more »

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index Increases In December

January 12, 2015 The Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI) increased in December.  The index now stands at 128.43, up from 127.83 in November.  This represents a 7.5 percent gain in the ETI compared to a year ago. “The Employment Trends Index increased in every single month of 2014, capping the year off with strong… Read more »

Costco Comps Surge 8% In U.S.

January 8, 2015 Costco showed again in December why it’s the cream of the crop among warehouse club stores. The Washington based retailer reported an increase of 8% in same store sales in the United States, excluding gasoline sales and foreign exchange.  Same-store sales at international stores rose by 1%. Net sales for the retailer… Read more »

Best Job Year In More Than A Decade Ends On High Note

January 9, 2015 The economy generated 252,000 new jobs in December, and the gains for November and October were revised up.  These strong gains are likely to continue to boost consumer spending in 2015.  The continued drop in the unemployment rate, to 5.6 percent in December, puts us within striking distance of the natural rate… Read more »