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March 17, 2014 Builder confidence in the market for newly-built, single-family homes rose one point to 47 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. “The March HMI mirrors last month’s sentiment, as builders continued to be affected by poor weather and difficulties in finding lots and labor,” said... Read more »

March 10, 2014 The Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI) increased in February.  The Index now stands at 116.39, up from 115.99 (a downward revision) in January.  This represents a 4.4 percent gain in the ETI compared to a year ago. “February’s job report and the ongoing improvement in the Employment Trends Index should provide... Read more »

March 13, 2014 Many retailers have pointed to a persistent and severe winter for weak holiday and fourth-quarter sales.  But according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), retail sales rebounded in February. The NRF said that February retail sales, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 0.2% adjusted month-to-month and 2.3% year-over-year. “Today’s positive retail... Read more »

March 13, 2014 An unrelenting Dollar General continues to push forward with plans to open 700 stores this year despite reporting weak financial results and a 1.3% same-store sales increase for the fourth quarter. Sales during Dollar General’s fourth quarter ended December 31, increased 6.8% to nearly $4.5 billion and were driven mainly by the... Read more »

March 6, 2014 Albertsons plans to acquire Safeway for $32 a share in a deal valued at roughly $9 billion that will create a supermarket chain with roughly 2,400 locations to rival market leader Kroger. The deal announced late Thursday ended longrunning speculation regarding the potential acquisition of Safeway. “This transaction offers us the opportunity... Read more »

March 10, 2014 For meteorologists, scientists, weathermen and millions of others, this winter has been absolutely dreadful.  And, although spring is on the horizon, much of the country is still covered in snow.  In fact, the nation’s 21st winter storm just wrapped up this past weekend. When it comes to the impact weather has on... Read more »

March 11, 2014 Following disappointing fourth-quarter sales, the Bon-Ton Stores president and CEO Brendan L. Hoffman has notified the company’s board of directors that he will not renew his employment agreement with the company when it expires February 7, 2015.  Hoffman also plans to resign as a director of the company. “I am extremely proud... Read more »

March 11, 2014 Smaller format stores are all the rage these days.  Dollar General, which already operates nearly 12,000 stores, plans to open 700 more  this year.  Walmart recently announced plans to accelerate growth of its smaller format stores by opening between 270 and 300 small stores, more than double the 120 to 150 store... Read more »

March 10, 2014 Today, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released the results of a new study, What Home Buyers Really Want: Ethnic Preferences.  The latest release from NAHB’s publishing arm, BuilderBooks is a further analysis of the 2013 study, What Home Buyers Really Want, which presented preferences of all home buyers combined.  This... Read more »