Financial News

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — An unrelenting Dollar General continues to push forward with plans to open 700 stores this year despite reporting weak financial results and a 1.3% same-store sales increase for the fourth quarter.

WASHINGTON — Many retailers have pointed to a persistent and severe winter for weak holiday and fourth-quarter sales. But according to the National Retail Federation, retail sales rebounded in February.

The NRF said that February retail sales, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 0.2% adjusted month-to-month and 2.3% unadjusted year-over-year.

CINCINNATI — Kroger danced around "the elephant in the room" in declining to discuss future merger and acquisition plans on its fourth-quarter conference call Thursday morning. While neither Kroger executives nor analysts actually referenced any potential Safeway transaction, Rodney McMullen, Kroger CEO did provide some color as to what strategic opportunities the company would be interested in: "The thing that was attractive about Harris Teeter as a transaction — it's a well-run company that overall we admired a whole lot," he said.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid on Thursday posted a 1.5% increase in same-store sales for the five weeks ended March 1. February front-end same-store sales decreased 1.8%, of which 0.5% was attributable to a decrease in sales of flu-related over-the-counter products. Pharmacy same-store sales, which included an approximate 138 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 3.1%.