SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) – Top U.S. retail chains ended their fiscal year with better-than-expected January sales, but the current first quarter could be tougher if consumers overspent during the holiday season.

January same-store sales rose 3.3 percent based on a tally of 29 retailers compiled by Thomson Reuters, led by positive surprises from department store operator Nordstrom <JWN.N> and teen apparel chain American Eagle Outfitters <AEO.N>.

Analysts were expecting sales at stores open at least one year to rise 2.5 percent. Sales rose in all categories except drugstores, which posted a 1.4 percent drop.

The results mark a rebound from a year ago, when sales fell 5.6 percent, and follow a bigger-than-expected 2.9 percent increase in December.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. big box retailers are trying to slim down.

Retailers like Target Corp <TGT.N> and Wal-Mart Stores Inc <WMT.N> have expanded since the late 1980s by opening stores as large as three U.S. football fields.

In the last few years, they began to plan for smaller stores that fit in urban markets. That strategy is gaining urgency now as retailers look for new growth and seek to meet the demands of a shopper looking to buy and spend less.

Target and Wal-Mart have both told analysts they are creating smaller stores that could fit in the heart of densely packed cities where they have no presence. But analysts warn that creating a small store doesn’t just mean shrinking a big one.

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) – Top U.S. retail chains ended their fiscal year with better-than-expected January sales, but the current first quarter could be tougher if consumers overspent during the holiday season.

January same-store sales rose 3.3 percent based on a tally of 29 retailers compiled by Thomson Reuters, led by positive surprises from department store operator Nordstrom <JWN.N> and teen apparel chain American Eagle Outfitters <AEO.N>.

Analysts were expecting sales at stores open at least one year to rise 2.5 percent. Sales rose in all categories except drugstores, which posted a 1.4 percent drop.

The results mark a rebound from a year ago, when sales fell 5.7 percent, and follow a bigger-than-expected 2.9 percent increase in December.

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) – January sales at top U.S. retailers moved into positive territory from last year’s decline as many chains avoided drastic clearance sales and shoppers redeemed holiday gift cards.

Many retailers reported sales that beat Wall Street estimates, and Macy’s Inc’s <M.N> and American Eagle Outfitters Inc <AEO.N> raised earnings forecasts. Bon-Ton Stores Inc <BONT.O> said its quarterly earnings would be at or near the high end of its outlook.

But Target Corp <TGT.N>, the No. 2 U.S. discount retailer, posted disappointing sales and said it was prepared for a challenging environment in 2010.

Shares of Macy’s rose 5.1 percent in premarket trading, and American Eagle was up 1.3 percent, while Target fell 2.7 percent.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. big box retailers are trying to slim down.

Retailers like Target Corp and Wal-Mart Stores Inc have expanded since the late 1980s by opening stores as large as three U.S. football fields.

In the last few years, they began to plan for smaller stores that fit in urban markets. That strategy is gaining urgency now as retailers look for new growth and seek to meet the demands of a shopper looking to buy and spend less.

Target and Wal-Mart have both told analysts they are creating smaller stores that could fit in the heart of densely packed cities where they have no presence. But analysts warn that creating a small store doesn’t just mean shrinking a big one.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc <WMT.N> is cutting 300 jobs at its headquarters in northwest Arkansas as Chief Executive Mike Duke scours the company for ways to cut costs and make the world’s biggest retailer more efficient.

In a memo sent to employees, Duke said managers were asked to look for opportunities to eliminate duplication and reduce costs when deciding which jobs to cut. The jobs are mainly being eliminated in its corporate support divisions, like legal, finance, information systems and human resources.

Duke marked his one-year anniversary as the CEO of Wal-Mart on February 1. At the company’s analyst meeting in October, Duke said he wanted to cut costs so Wal-Mart could lower prices, which in turn would help it retain customers and boost sales.

To that end, Wal-Mart last week announced a reorganization of its U.S. operations and said it would divide the country into three regions managed by separate presidents. It also announced plans in January to close 10 money-losing Sam’s Club stores and cut 12,700 jobs in its warehouse club division.

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc <WMT.N> is cutting 300 jobs at its headquarters in northwest Arkansas as Chief Executive Mike Duke scours the company for ways to cut costs and make the world’s biggest retailer more efficient.

In a memo sent to employees, Duke said managers were asked to look for opportunities to eliminate duplication and reduce costs when deciding which jobs to cut. The jobs are mainly being eliminated in its corporate support divisions, like legal, finance, information systems and human resources.

Duke marked his one-year anniversary as the CEO of Wal-Mart on Feb. 1. At the company’s analyst meeting in October, Duke said he wanted to cut costs so Wal-Mart could lower prices, which in turn would help it retain customers and boost sales.

To that end, Wal-Mart last week announced a reorganization of its U.S operations and said it would divide the country into three regions managed by separate presidents. It also announced plans in January to close 10 money-losing Sam’s Club stores and cut 12,700 jobs in its warehouse club division.

Three Walmart stores in Northern California are no longer giving shoppers the option of packing their purchases in free plastic bags.

Instead, in stores in Folsom, Citrus Heights and Ukiah, Walmart is offering shoppers resuable bags — a regular sized bag for 15 cents or an oversized bag for 50 cents.

It’s part of a plan by Walmart to cut plastic shopping bag waste in its stores by one-third by 2013.

In 52 other stores in California, Walmart is now selling both of these reusable bags up front  at the register, where cashiers are encouraging shoppers to buy them when they check out (although shoppers can still opt for the free plastic bags).

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Costco Wholesale Corp <COST.O> has appointed a president and chief operating officer, and created an Office of the President, moves analysts said signal the No. 1 U.S. warehouse club operator is planning an eventual successor to its chief executive officer.

Late on Monday, Costco said Craig Jelinek, its executive vice president in charge of merchandising, was promoted to president and chief operating officer, effective immediately.

Costco also formed an Office of the President that includes CEO Jim Sinegal, Chairman Jeff Brotman, Senior Executive Vice President Dick DiCerchio and Jelinek. The four executives will “coordinate on major company matters,” the retailer said.

Analysts said the changes show Costco is planning for the eventual retirement of Sinegal, who turned 74 on Jan. 1.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – January sales at top U.S. retail chains should rebound into positive territory from last year’s decline as shoppers redeemed holiday gift cards and retailers avoided drastic clearance sales.

Retailers ranging from Target Corp to J.C. Penney Co Inc to American Eagle Outfitters Inc will report January sales on Wednesday and Thursday. Sales at stores open at least a year, or same-store sales, are forecast to rise 2.4 percent compared with a drop of 5.7 percent last year, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The figures could mark the fifth consecutive monthly sales increase after a year’s worth of declines during the recession, as consumers slowly return to spending and retailers lower prices to match a more circumspect shopper.

January is seen as the least important month of the holiday fourth quarter, accounting for the smallest portion of its sales. But retailers including Aeropostale Inc, Gap Inc and TJX Cos Inc could raise their earnings forecasts when they report sales results, analysts said, helped by demand from bargain-hungry shoppers and improved margins.