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March 27, 2014 During New Homes Month in April, the National Association of Home Builders is sharing with home buyers the most popular features in new single-family homes in 2014.  Builders from across the country were surveyed on what features they were most likely to include in a typical single-family home this year, revealing that... Read more »

March 28, 2014 Weather Trends International expects April 2014 to trend the coldest in five years and drier than last year for the U.S. as a whole.  Warmer year-on-year temperature trends in the Central states will be sandwiched in between colder trends on the East and West coasts.  A more active severe weather season than... Read more »

March 27, 2014 Favorable tax credits and a 53rd week in fiscal 2012 affected Fred’s net income results for the fourth quarter.  Severe weather also contributed some to the company’s net sales decline, as did higher-than-normal utility bills and rising generic drug costs. The company reported a substantial 34.5% decrease in its net income during the... Read more »

A recent Federal Reserve report shows that household finances have regained substantial ground since the Great Recession, driven largely by the run-up in home values and surge in stocks.  These positive forces have contributed to the highest level of wealth in our history – the net worth of U.S. households and nonprofits reached $80.7 trillion... Read more »

March 25, 2014 Despite expected headwinds from slower generic drug introductions, comparisons with last year’s flu season and severe weather, Walgreens saw solid top-line growth in the second quarter ended February 28, driven by record quarterly sales and record second quarter prescriptions filled. The company also continued to gain prescription market share while maintaining a... Read more »

March 25, 2014 Sales of newly built, single family homes fell 3.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 440,000 units in February, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. “There is no doubt that the persistently bad weather took a toll... Read more »

March 25, 2014 The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had decreased in February, improved in March.  The Index now stands at 82.3, up from 78.3 in February.  The Present Situation Index edged down to 80.4 from 81.0, while the Expectations Index increased to 83.5 from 76.5. “Consumer confidence improved in March, as expectations for... Read more »

March 18, 2014 Walmart this week opened its first small format convenience store branded as Walmart To Go in its hometown of Bentonville. The concept offers a familiar blend of convenience store products, prepared foods and gasoline and is not to be confused with Walmart’s other small format concept known as Walmart Express.  The Express... Read more »

March 14, 2014 Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores said Fourth-quarter same-store sales declined 3.4% as two of the company’s best known brands had disappointing results.  Sales in the fourth quarter declined 4.5% to $602.4 million due to the combination of a 3.4% same-store sales decline and an extra week in the fourth quarter the prior... Read more »