Dec 26 (Reuters) – The 2012 holiday season may have been the
worst for retailers since the 2008 financial crisis, with sales
growth far below expectations, forcing many to offer massive
post-Christmas discounts in hopes of shedding excess inventory.

While chains like Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Gap Inc
are thought to have done well, analysts expect much less
from the likes of book seller Barnes & Noble Inc and
department store chain J. C. Penney Co Inc.

Dec 26 (Reuters) – As the U.S. holiday season winds down,
retailers were left to hope that post-Christmas sales could help
salvage their worst performance since 2008, preliminary data
showed.

Holiday-related sales rose 0.7 percent from Oct. 28 through
Dec. 24, compared with a 2 percent increase last year, according
to data from MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse.

, Dec 24 (Reuters) – Retailers
limped into Christmas with last-minute blowout deals on
everything from TVs to celebrity-branded clothing, after a
disappointing few weeks of sales led many analysts to lower
their expectations for the holiday season.

Some industry watchers said shoppers were making smaller
purchases, even though they are still visiting stores and
browsing online. Since the holiday quarter can account for about
30 percent of annual sales and half of profit for many chains,
such small distinctions can be crucial.

, Dec 24 (Reuters) – Retailers
limped into Christmas with last-minute blowout deals on
everything from TVs to celebrity-branded clothing, after a
disappointing few weeks of sales led many analysts to lower
their expectations for the holiday season.

Some industry watchers said shoppers were making smaller
purchases, even though they are still visiting stores and
browsing online. Since the holiday quarter can account for about
30 percent of annual sales and half of profit for many chains,
such small distinctions can be crucial.

By Jessica Wohl

(Reuters) – Walgreen Co (WAG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted an unexpected decline in quarterly profit on Friday as the largest U.S. drugstore chain worked on winning back former customers and changed how it accounts for its first international acquisition.

For the first 8-1/2 months of 2012 Walgreen could not fill prescriptions for patients on Express Scripts Holding Co (ESRX.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) benefits plans because of a contract dispute between the companies, which meant millions of customers switched to other pharmacies to get their medications. Walgreen is trying to lure them back with offers such as $25 gift cards.

Dec 13 (Reuters) – CVS Caremark Corp is looking at
changes in U.S. healthcare as an opportunity to serve more
customers, whether they are picking up prescriptions, getting
them through the mail, or stopping by an in-house MinuteClinic
for a checkup.

The company, formed when drugstore chain CVS bought pharmacy
benefits manager Caremark in 2007 in a $27 billion all-stock
deal, is set to give details on its strategy as it meets with
analysts and investors in New York on Thursday. It also plans to
discuss its 2013 financial forecasts.

By Jessica Wohl

(Reuters) – Costco Wholesale Corp’s (COST.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) quarterly earnings beat Wall Street estimates, but the largest U.S. warehouse club chain collected less in membership fees than some analysts anticipated.

Shares of Costco were up 0.8 percent at $99.11 in morning Nasdaq trading after a slight decline earlier in the session.

By Jessica Wohl

(Reuters) – Most Americans are nowhere close to having their holiday shopping done, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows, raising hope there could be a big boost in sales during the last two weeks before Christmas.

The survey results could provide solace for retailers in an environment where Americans’ view of the economy and their finances took a turn for the worse in early December.

Dec 12 (Reuters) – Most Americans are nowhere close to
having their holiday shopping done, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll
shows, raising hope there could be a big boost in sales during
the last two weeks before Christmas.

The survey results could provide solace for retailers in an
environment where Americans’ view of the economy and their
finances took a turn for the worse in early December.

Dec 11 (Reuters) – Dollar General Corp on Tuesday
posted a bigger-than-expected increase in profit and said it
remained cautious about the rest of the year despite an
encouraging start to the holiday season.

The discount chain said customer confidence and spending was
still under pressure and it faced challenges from competing
chains.