Blogs, guides, reports and news articles all in one place
Walgreens’ Profits Miss Street Expectations
25 Jun, 2014 • Helen Thomas
Walgreens reported a 16% year-over-year jump in third quarter profit, but was forced to withdraw its previously issued fiscal 2016 guidance because it missed Wall Street estimates. The company’s net earnings for the quarter were $722 million compared to $624 million in the prior-year period. Net sales increased 6% to $19.4 billion from $18.3 billion,... Read more »
New Home Sales Up 18.6 Percent In May
24 Jun, 2014 • Helen Thomas
June 24, 2014 Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 18.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000 units in May, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the highest rate since May 2008. “These numbers are in line... Read more »
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Continues To Improve
24 Jun, 2014 • Helen Thomas
June 24, 2014 Index at Highest Level Since January 2008 The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had increased in May, improved again in June. The Index now stands at 85.2, up from 82.2 in May. The Present Situation Index increased to 85.1 from 80.3, while the Expectations Index rose to 85.2 from 83.5 in... Read more »
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index For The U.S. Increased In May
19 Jun, 2014 • Helen Thomas
June 19, 2014 The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.5 percent in May to 101.7, following a 0.3 percent increase in April, and a 1.0 percent increase in March. “May’s increase in the LEI, the fourth consecutive one, was broad based,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Economist at The Conference Board. “Housing... Read more »
Dads Enjoy Better-Than-Expected Father’s Day
19 Jun, 2014 • Helen Thomas
June 18, 2014 The National Retail Federation (NRF) had forecast that Father’s Day spending would shrink this year, reaching just $12.5 billion. But it looks like the smallest of gift-giving holidays fared better than expected. Overall U.S. retail online sales for the week leading up to Father’s Day – June 9-15 – climbed more than... Read more »
U.S. Workers More Satisfied? Just Barely.
18 Jun, 2014 • Helen Thomas
June 18, 2014 Americans have the highest job satisfaction levels since the beginning of the Great Recession, according to a report released today by The Conference Board. The majority, however, continue to be unhappy at work. The report, based on a Fall 2013 survey of 5,000 U.S. households conducted for The Conference Board by The... Read more »
Housing Production Falls 6.5 Percent In May
17 Jun, 2014 • Helen Thomas
June 17, 2014 Declines in both single and multifamily starts pushed nationwide housing production down 6.5 percent in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of just over 1 million units, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. However, single-family permits, which can... Read more »
Builder Confidence Rises Four Points In June
16 Jun, 2014 • Helen Thomas
June 16, 2014 Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose four points in June to reach a level of 49 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. It remains one point shy of the threshold for what is considered good building conditions. “After several... Read more »
Unseasonably Cold Weather Delivers Challenging Q1 To Sears Hometown
16 Jun, 2014 • Helen Thomas
June 6, 2014 Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores CEO and president Bruce Johnson cited weather and promotions as factors affecting the retailer’s first quarter results. Net sales in the quarter decreased 1.9% to $589.9 million from $601.1 million in the first quarter of 2013, driven primarily by a 6.2% decrease in same-store sales. Lower initial... Read more »