Why Out-of-stocks, Data Mismatch, and Hidden Demand Still Catch Out Beauty Brands When beauty brands review retail performance, the picture often looks reassuring. Availability appears high. Sales reports feel complete. Forecasts are built on what was sold. But our conversations with brands working directly with Ulta and Sephora reveal a more complicated reality. One where... Read more »
April 24, 2014 Safeway posted sales of $8.3 billion in the first quarter of 2014, representing an increase of 1%. The slight uptick in sales was primarily attributed to an identical-store sales (excluding fuel) increase of 1.8%, partly offset by lower fuel sales in 2014. This increase of 1.8% consists of a 1% increase in… Read more »
April 23, 2014 Things are looking good for Supervalu, which reported fourth quarter fiscal 2014 net sales of $4 billion, up 1.4%, and net earnings of $26 million, or $0.10 per diluted share. “Fiscal 2014 was an important transition year for Supervalu as we stabilized the organization and set the foundation for our future,” stated… Read more »
April 23, 2014 Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 14.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000 units in March, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. “We keep hearing from our members that tight credit conditions are preventing many… Read more »
April 18, 2014 Those looking to understand how the retail industry will perform in the second quarter and beyond can gain an interesting perspective from the outlook shared by one of the world’s largest diversified packaging companies. First quarter sales in the display and packaging division at Sonoco increased 6% to $153 million and operating… Read more »
April 21, 2014 The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.8 percent in March to 100.9, following a 0.5 percent increase in February, and a 0.2 percent increase in January. “The LEI rose sharply again, the third consecutive month increase,” said Ataman Ozyildrim, Economist at The Conference Board. “After a winter pause,… Read more »
April 21, 2014 Last Week: With winter weather in the rearview mirror, the big question now is how much bounce will demand get – with shoppers finally able to get out and about. Weather may be the big reason why the economy underperformed in the first quarter. Good weather may be the reason why the… Read more »
April 17, 2014 Solid growth is expected in the home remodeling market this year but momentum should begin to moderate in the fourth quarter, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), released today by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Sluggishness in the housing market… Read more »
April 15, 2014 Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose one point to 47 in April from a downwardly revised March reading of 46 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. “Builder confidence has been in a holding pattern the past three months,” said… Read more »
April 16, 2014 Led by a 6 percent rise in single-family starts, nationwide housing production rose 2.8 percent above an upwardly revised February rate of 920,000 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 946,000 units in March, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. “We see improving signs of new-home… Read more »
April 14, 2014 Last week: During a quiet week with relatively little news, the drop in stock prices garnered headlines, even as corporate profit reporting gets underway. There seems to be a little more retail activity in early spring, as the wet, cold winter fades into memory. And forecasts continue to reflect optimism that the… Read more »
