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Dollar General reported quarterly profits were up 33% to a record $299 million for the quarter.  Total sales and same store sales were also up significantly.   The value Dollar General offers to cost aware consumers is clearly paying off for them.  Our teams provide reporting and analytics on Dollar General EDI 852 and we... Read more »

Spring Apparel, Candy to Send Easter Sales Past $16 Billion, According to NRF It seems even high prices at the pump can’t keep the Easter Bunny away this year.  According to NRF’s Easter spending survey, conducted by BIGinsight, Americans will shell out an average of $145.28 on everything from apparel and candy to food and... Read more »

Nearly all EDI 852 files report activity of SKUs or UPC’s.  While this probably seems like an obvious statement, it does create some work to create a data set which is suitable for good inventory on hand reporting. EDI 852 activity based reporting means that a SKU which is on hand, but which did not... Read more »

February Retail Sales Increase 8.6 Percent Over Last Year, Marking 20 Consecutive Months of Growth With a spring in their step, retailers marked 20 consecutive months of sustained year-over-year retail sales growth in February as unseasonably warm temperatures and comparisons with weak sales in 2011 resulted in stronger-than-expected increases. According to the National Retail Federation,... Read more »

MARTIN CRUTSINGER Published: Associated Press 3/13/12 February retail sales rose 1.1 percent, biggest gain in 5 months, with autos showing strength. (AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach) WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans stepped up spending on retail goods in February, evidence that a stronger job market is boosting the economy. Consumers bought more autos, clothes and appliances. They also... Read more »

Consumer confidence in February shot up from last month to the highest level since a year ago, according to The Conference Board. The group’s Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 70.8, up from a revised 61.5 in January, buoyed by consumers’ more positive assessment of the job market. “Consumers are considerably less pessimistic about current... Read more »

Tractor Supply announced this week an increase to its long term operating margin target and that it plans to open additional stores.   Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO) has carved out a niche in the market and appears to be exploiting that niche very effectively.  The recent press release included this statement from their Chairman... Read more »

Lowe’s reported a 13% increase in earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter and same store sales were up 3.4%.  The second largest home improvement retailer has been closing stores and reshaping its operations in an effort to increase profits and compete with rival Home Depot.   For 2012, Lowe’s forecasts a total sales increase of... Read more »

Hedge fund manager Edward Lampert announced Thursday he intends to sell off some 1,200 Sears stores in an effort to raise $770 million in cash.   Some are looking at this as the start of a breakup and a reversal on the past seven years spent trying to integrate Kmart and pull the company out of... Read more »