Feuding Continues In The Family Dollar Affair

December 5, 2014 As the acquisition of Family Dollar Moves closer to resolution, would-be acquirers Dollar Tree and Dollar General maintain widely differing views on the superiority of their respective offers and the opinion of federal regulators. The latest developments in the ongoing Family Dollar affair occurred December 5 when Dollar Tree and Dollar General… Read more »

Retailers Add 37,000 Jobs In November

December 5, 2014 Retail industry employment increased by 37,000 jobs in November, the National Retail Federation said today.  Consistent with seasonal hiring patterns, employment gains were seen in most retail categories, including a marked increase of 11,300 jobs in clothing and clothing accessories stores.  NRF does not include automobile dealerships, gasoline stations or restaurants in… Read more »

Job Growth And Wage Gains Excel In November

December 5, 2014 The economy generated 321,000 new jobs in November, much faster than the average six month change in recent months at 258,000 jobs.  This job report is an especially strong one because it combines with an increase in hourly earnings at 9 cents, which is consistent with the acceleration in wages in the… Read more »

Weather Trends: December 2014

November 26, 2014 Temperatures are forecast to trend warmer than last year for the U.S. as a whole.  However, the Southeast may see some cooler trends compared to last year.  There is high confidence that the Great Lakes, New England, and South Central states will trend warmer than last year.  Onshore flow in the West… Read more »

November 2014 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business – PMI At 58.7%

December 1, 2014 New Orders, Employment and Production Growing; Inventories Growing; Supplier Deliveries Slowing Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in November for the 18th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 66th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued… Read more »

Dollar Tree Q3 Sales Lift Holiday Outlook

November 20, 2014 As Dollar Tree moves forward with its acquisition of Family Dollar, the company reported an increase in same-store sales and expressed a favorable holiday outlook. Dollar Tree’s earnings per share increased 19% to $0.69 and its revenue increased 11.2% to $2.1 billion compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2013; these results… Read more »

Sales, Traffic Decline Thanksgiving Weekend

December 1, 2014 Fewer Americans shopped and they spent less money during the Thanksgiving weekend, according to new estimates from the National Retail Federation. Early holiday promotions, the continued growth of online shopping, and an improving economy changed the way millions of people approached the biggest shopping weekend of the year, according to NRF’s Thanksgiving… Read more »

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Declines In November

November 25, 2014 The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had rebounded in October, declined in November.  The index now stands at 88.7, down from 94.1 in October.  The Present Situation Index declined from 94.4 to 91.3, while the Expectations Index decreased sharply to 87.0 from 93.8 in October. Says Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators… Read more »