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September 5, 2014 A gain of only 142,000 new jobs in August, relative to a stronger trend in hiring in previous months of over 200,000 new jobs per month, is somewhat surprising as the economy overall has been quite strong recently.  Retail employment has dropped, which may relate to weaker consumption figures in the past... Read more »

September 4, 2014 Rite Aid reported a 3.2% lift in sales for the 26 weeks ended August 30, ringing in $12.9 billion. Same-store sales for the period increased 3.6% over the prior-year period.  Front-end same store sales increased 0.6%, while pharmacy same store sales increased 5.1%.  Prescription count at comparable stores increased 3% over the... Read more »

September 4, 2014 Just two days after reporting second quarter results, Fred’s posted August results.  Improved sales and traffic in the month were driven, according to CEO Bruce A. Efird, by initiatives that the company implemented for the first time in August. Total sales for the month increased 6% to $147.6 million from $139.4 million... Read more »

September 4, 2014 In July, 2014, annual inflation as measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) declined in 10 of the 16 economies compared, including in the U.S., Japan and the Euro Area as a whole. Spain experienced the largest decline in price growth (from 0.0 to -0.4 percent), returning to deflationary territory... Read more »

September 4, 2014 Walgreens reported August sales of $6.4 billion, an increase of 3.6% from the same month in fiscal 2013.  Total sales for fiscal 2014 were $76.4 billion, an increase of 5.8% from fiscal 2013. Total front-end sales increased 2.1% in August compared with the same month in fiscal 2013, while comparable-store front-end sales... Read more »

September 5, 2014 Dollar Tree and Family Dollar have amended their merger agreement to include a commitment by Dollar Tree to divest as many stores as necessary or advisable to obtain antitrust clearance for the previously announced cash and stock transaction. All other terms and conditions of the merger agreement remain the same as announced... Read more »

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 »

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 »

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 »