Shop Talk

Check Out Line: Consumers beware! Rising prices even at Wal-Mart

Check out rising prices even at Wal-Mart.

Pressures created by rising costs have caused even the world’s largest retailer, known for its ”rollback” discounts, to boost the prices that consumers pay for groceries.      Wal-Mart Stores raised average prices on supermarket items by about 6 percent in a month, according to a recent J.P. Morgan study in Virginia that compared the prices of 31-item goods sold at its supercenters, and at supermarket rivals Kroger, Safeway, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods.      Specifically, the study found that prices at a supercenter in Virginia rose 5.8 percent, the most significant sequential increase since JP Morgan started price comparisons in January 2009.      While the world’s largest retailer remains the cheapest among supermarkets, rivals such as Kroger and Safeway are gaining ground, according to J.P. Morgan.      Rising costs of raw materials and oil are pressuring companies to pass on costs to consumers with higher prices.

Indeed, clothes makers such as Nike, VF Corp and Hanesbrands are facing the same conundrum. And British baker Greggs said soaring wheat prices were set to push up costs, emphasizing a theme that may be repeated for such food makers as General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft and Sara Lee.

However, the timing is not good as the state of the U.S. economy is still uncertain and unemployment remains stubbornly high, leading many consumers to still be wary about spending. U.S. retailers in July posted weaker-than-expected sales  despite increased discounting.      Also in the basket:

Wendy’s/Arby’s to expand into Russia

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Fossil Q2 tops estimates; raises FY10 view

Check Out Line: Refreshing quarterly earnings

Check out the strong earnings results from several companies in the consumer sector.

PepsiCo reported a rise in fourth-quarter earnings in line with expectations, stronger-than-expected sales and maintained its full-year outlook. The maker of Pepsi drinks and Frito-Lay snacks said the volume of snacks sold rose 1 percent, while beverage volume fell by the same amount.

The company, which also owns Tropicana, Quaker and Gatorade, also said it still hopes to complete its $7.8 billion acquisition of its two largest bottlers by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, interactive toy maker LeapFrog posted a fourth-quarter profit that handily beat analysts’ estimates and it forecast strong revenue growth for the year. Apparel manufacturer VF Corp, whose brands include Wrangler, Lee and Vans, rang up a better-than-expected profit on strong demand for outdoor wear, and AutoNation, the largest U.S. auto dealership group, also beat expectations.

In another good sign for the U.S. economy, jobless claims fell sharply last week, reversing a recent spike that had raised concerns about renewed labor market weakness.

Not everyone is saying things are great, however, as French food group Danone said the crisis caused by weak consumption was far from over.

Also in the basket:

Check Out Line: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

Check out the tale of two cities in the retail world.

We are in the heart of the earnings season and every day brings reports that offer grist for both sides of the argument about whether the recovery has begun.

For the optimists, we have sports clothing and footwear maker Under Armour, which posted a stronger-than-expected quarter and raised its outlook, and yoga clothing and athletic gear maker Lululemon Athletica, which raised its forecast.

Meanwhile, DineEquity, home of the Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity breakfast at IHOP, topped Wall Street’s expectations due to lower costs, and better sales and more efficient staffing allowed outdoor gear retailer Cabela’s to post stronger-than-expected earnings.

On the other side of the tug-of-war, pessimists can point to VF Corp. The maker of such brands as the North Face, Vans, Wrangler and Lee missed analysts’ expectations and said consumer spending would remain challenged.

Meanwhile, Winn-Dixie posted a wider loss and gave a weak 2010 outlook as recession-hit consumers shopped for fewer items on visits to the supermarket chain, and Limited Brands, the operator of the Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works chains, warned that its October sales are trending below expectations.

The market weighed in as S&P 500 index futures edged higher on Tuesday as better-than-expected earnings offset worries that the market’s seven-month rally was reaching its end.

VF takes stake in Splendid and Ella Moss

Despite the credit crunch and weak U.S. economy VF Corp went shopping again.

The company, once known for functional brands like Wrangler, Lee, Eastpak and JanSport, said on Wednesday it acquired a one-third interest in Mo Industries, owner of the Splendid and Ella Moss brands.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, beyond saying that it valued the brands at close to 7.5 times expected 2008 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Splendid and Ella Moss clothes are sold at high-end retailers such as Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom and together brought in over $80 million in revenue last year.

Mike Egeck, president of VF’s contemporary brands segment, said the acquisition allows the company to broaden its offering of knit tops and provide synergies with its 7 For All Mankind and lucy brands, which respectively sell designer jeans and yoga clothes.

(Photo: www.splendid.com)