Financial News

NEW YORK — Despite caution among consumers, retailers wrapped up 2012 with a healthy holiday shopping season, according to a new report by a retailing trade group.

The National Retail Federation said Tuesday that holiday retail sales increased 3% over the year before, to $579.8 billion. December retail sales increased 0.8% seasonally adjusted from November and 2.1% unadjusted year over year. Nevertheless, the 3% increase was still below the NRF's projected 4.1% growth. Meanwhile, nonstore holiday sales grew 11.1%.

In the current economy, microwavable single-serve meals may be the answer to consumers’ decreased restaurant use. “These meals occupy the spot between homemade and restaurant meals,” said Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst and VP at NPD Group. “They represent food
service redefined.”

NEW YORK — A recent survey commissioned by Dannon found that 68% of consumers believe certain probiotics help regulate the digestive system, yet one-third of Americans agree that they don’t get enough probiotics in their average daily diets.

That suggests an upside for an already hot category — sales of probiotics were up 16.2% across all channels to $232 million for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 28, according to SymphonyIRI Group data.

NEW YORK — Pet supplements represent a new mostly untapped market opportunity for the OTC section in the retail pharmacy setting. Consumers spent an estimated $52.9 billion last year on their pets, up 3.7% as compared with 2011 actual sales, according to the American Pet Products Association.

NEW YORK — CVS/pharmacy has decided to stock Tylenol pain reliever in only half of its stores, according to a Reuters report published Monday. 

According to the report, CVS will stock Tylenol in each market, but not in each store as CVS seeks to plug any out-of-stock holes left behind by the initial recall of Tylenol three years ago and the brand's slow trek back to shelf. 

Sales of sun care products experienced a boost in sales as consumers increasingly understand the importance of protecting their skin from the sun’s harmful rays and manufacturers develop products that promise to deliver greater performance.

According to SymphonyIRI, sales of suntan lotion rose more than 7% for the 12 weeks ended Dec. 2 at total U.S. multi-outlets, which covers supermarkets, drug stores, mass market retailers, military commissaries, and select club and dollar retail chains.

With sleep aids rising from the floor level shelf across several analgesic planograms, the category that features several dietary supplement players is becoming more prominent. Sales of melatonin, the natural ingredient most often associated with calming and sleep, were up 35.8% to $123.9 million for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 28, according to SymphonyIRI Group across its total U.S. multi-outlet data set.

Interest in vitamins, minerals and supplements as a viable consumer product with strong profit-bearing potential has got to be at an all-time high right now, judging from the number of merger and acquisition deals scrolling across the latest finance news feeds.