Family Dollar Rejects Dollar General Merger Proposal

September 5, 2014 Family Dollar has rejected the revised proposal made by Dollar General on September 2 on the basis of antitrust regulatory considerations.  The Dollar General offer may be financially superior, the dollar store noted, but it’s not likely to pass muster with the Federal Trade Commission. “Our board of directors, with the assistance… Read more »

Retail Industry Loses 17,700 Jobs In August

September 5, 2014 NRF calculated retail industry (excluding auots and gasoline) employment declined by 17,700 jobs in August, with significant downward revisions for July and June.  Loss leaders included food and beverage stores, which witnessed a 17,000 job loss, possibly suggesting a seasonal or category-specific anomaly. “Employment figures for August were undoubtedly disappointing and lackluster,”… Read more »

Online Labor Demand Rises 164,600 In August

September 3, 2014 August posts strong increase following small loss in July Large gains for California, Michigan, Illinois and Florida Online advertised vacancies gained 164,600 to 5,209,200 in August, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine (HWOL) Data Series released today.  The July Supply/Demand rate stands at 1.9 unemployed for each advertised vacancy with a… Read more »

New Corporate Name For CVS Caremark

September 3, 2014 CVS Caremark is changing its corporate name to CVS Health to reflect its broader health care commitment and its expertise in driving the innovations needed to shape the future of health. “For our patients and customers, health is everything and CVS Health is changing the way health care is delivered to increase… Read more »

Fred’s CEO Focuses On Key Wins In Q2

September 2, 2014 Fred’s second quarter results reflected the company’s strategic decision to build its business model for the future as a convenience/pharmacy-centric store, driven by data-based inventory management, according to CEO Bruce Efird. The company reported a net loss of $16.4 million for the quarter.  Fred’s total sales for the second quarter of fiscal… Read more »

Growing Labor Shortages On The Horizon In Mature Economies

September 2, 2014 Serious labor shortages in the world’s advanced economies will create unprecedented challenges for business leaders and policymakers over the next fifteen years and beyond, according to a comprehensive new report released today by The Conference Board.  From Not Enough Jobs to Not Enough Workers forecasts the impact of aging populations to compound… Read more »

Big Lots To Live Down Closeout Image

August 31, 2014 Improved merchandising strategies and marketing execution at Big Lots has president and CEO David Campisi feeling good about prospects for a company that continues to distance itself from its closeout roots. Big Lots produced a 1.7% same store sales increase during its second quarter ended August 2 and generated earnings per share… Read more »

August 2014 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business – PMI At 59%

September 2, 2014 New Orders, Employment and Production Growing; Inventories Growing; Supplier Deliveries Slowing Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in August for the 15th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 63rd consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The report was issued… Read more »

An Offer Family Dollar Can’t Refuse

September 2, 2014 The Family Dollar board is under new pressure to walk away from a deal with Dollar Tree after Dollar General further increased an already more generous counter offer. Early Monday Dollar General increased its all cash offer to $80 a share from $78.50 a share and increased the number of stores it… Read more »

Weather Trends: September 2014

August 28, 2014 An increased risk of an emerging El Nino and a continuation of warmer than normal ocean waters in the Atlantic will produce warmer and wetter conditions along the East Coast along with an elevated tropical system risk.  The total number of tropical systems will be reduced overall, but should a storm threaten… Read more »