Target Q2 sales fall on muted spending, Pride month backlash, and it cuts profit outlook for 2023
Target reported its first quarterly sales drop in six years, dragged down by shoppers' inflation worries and a negative reaction by some customers, widely publicized on social media, to its Pride merchandise.
Target removes some LGBTQ merchandise from stores ahead of June Pride month after threats to workers
Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month, after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers.
Target's 3Q profit drops 52% as shoppers force price cuts
An unexpected and potentially ominous pullback in customer spending ahead of the holiday shopping season pushed third quarter profits at Target down 52% after it was forced to slash prices for Americans who are feeling the squeeze of inflation.
Woman beaten by man in Target parking lot says her face went โcompletely numbโ
A Willowbrook area woman is asking for the publicโs help in finding a man she said blindsided her and punched her in the face in a Target parking lot.Marisol Riddle said the attack happened Tuesday at about 7:30 p.m. as she was loading groceries into her car.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Holiday return headaches, third-party shipping issues
If you are returning something you got over the holidays - it might not be as easy as in the past specially if it's a larger item. A record number of people shopped online this holiday season. That combined with the pandemic and shipping supply issues means the holiday returns season is shaping up to be a challenge. KPRC 2 Investigates is looking into third party shipping issues.
Here are 3 ways to save in the Summer Sale Wars
The popular Amazon Prime day has led to stores like Target and Walmart creating their own days of deals and specials, leading to an all-out sales war. There are a few things to know before the sales kick off later this week. We are going to help you prepare so you can save the most money and how to earn an extra $10 Amazon Prime credit.
Jump in hiring fuels optimism for US economic recovery
That is down dramatically from 14.8% last April, just after the virus erupted in the United States. AdAlso hiring last month were retailers, which added 41,000 jobs, health care companies, with 46,000, and manufacturers, with 21,000. But state and local governments have slashed 1.4 million jobs since the pandemic erupted, including 86,000 last month, and most have instituted hiring freezes. The Congressional Budget Office projects the nation will add a substantial 6.2 million jobs this year. Sounding an optimistic note, he said: โThereโs good reason to expect job creation to pick up in the coming months."
Target powers through a pandemic; 2020 sales growth explodes
FILE - In this April 6, 2020 file photo, a customer wearing a mask carries his purchases as he leaves a Target store during the coronavirus pandemic, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. The moves come as Target extended its sales streak through the holiday quarter and sales grew by more than $15 billion. Online sales soared 118%. In the previous quarter, same-store sales rose 10%, while online sales spiked 155%. Late last year, it signed a deal with beauty chain Ulta Beauty that will place Ulta shops in more than 100 Target stores by mid-2021.
US jobless claims at 730K, still high but fewest in 3 months
The Federal Reserve says theres evidence that hiring has picked up in recent weeks, though the job market remains badly damaged by the pandemic. Jobless claims declined by 111,000 from the previous week to a seasonally adjusted 730,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Still, before the virus erupted in the United States last March, weekly applications for unemployment benefits had never topped 700,000. The latest figures coincide with a weakened job market that has made scant progress in the past three months. AdAll told, 19 million people were receiving unemployment aid as of Feb. 6, up from 18.3 million the previous week.
Federal Reserve sees modest pickup in hiring this month
The Federal Reserve says theres evidence that hiring has picked up in recent weeks, though the job market remains badly damaged by the pandemic. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)WASHINGTON โ The Federal Reserve says there's evidence that hiring has picked up in recent weeks, though the job market remains badly damaged by the pandemic. In its semi-annual monetary policy report released Friday, the Fed said it has been watching job data compiled by payroll processor ADP. AdThe report will form the basis for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's testimony next week before committees in the House and Senate. Hiring has stalled in the past three months, with job gains averaging just 90,000 a month from November through January.
Texans running out of food as weather crisis cripples supply chain
From farm to table, freezing temperatures and power outages are crippling the supply chain that people rely on for food every day. Some are storing their remaining rations in coolers outside, and trips to the grocery store often do little to replenish pantries. Several food banks affiliated with Feeding Texas have also started providing food supplies to emergency warming shelters in the stateโs major cities. AdFor Texas residents, disruptions to the food supply chain, often combined with continued power outages, mean eating non-perishable canned goods or leftover items like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Residents around the state have also taken to social media to share their stories about struggling to find food or an open grocery store.
Target to offer Houston-area employees these incentives for receiving COVID-19 vaccine
FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 file photo, people walk through the parking lot at a Target store in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)HOUSTON โ Target is joining several Houston-area companies in compensating employees who receive the coronavirus vaccine. In addition to pay, employees can take advantage of free Lyft rides to their vaccine site of their choice, such as a pharmacy, clinic, health care provider or a state/city-run super site. As coronavirus vaccines become more widely available for essential workers, Targetโs committed to making the process easier for our team. The company is also working with its benefits team to make sure all vaccine costs to employees are covered, no matter where they get it.
US consumer prices up 0.3% in January, led by energy spike
U.S. consumer prices were unchanged in October, the lowest reading in five months and an indication that the price spike seen this summer is beginning to fade as coronavirus cases start to increase. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)WASHINGTON โ U.S. consumer prices rose 0.3% in January, led by a surge in energy. But even though the gain was the biggest monthly increase since July, inflation gains over the past year have remained modest. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, is also up 1.4% with core prices unchanged in January. โConsumer price inflation remains very tame,โ said Kathy Bostjancic, chief U.S. financial economist at Oxford Economics, predicting that the upcoming rise in year-over-year inflation figures should be transitory.
Biden boosting vaccine allotments, financing for virus costs
Starting next week, 1 million doses will be distributed to some 6,500 pharmacies across the country, the White House said. The administration is also boosting by 500,000 the weekly allocation of vaccines sent directly to states and territories for the coming weeks, up to 10.5 million. It is allowing state and local governments to receive additional federal dollars to cover previously incurred expenses relating to the pandemic. The number of participating pharmacies and the allocation of vaccines are expected to accelerate as drug makers increase production. The Biden administration has sought to increase certainty to state governments on their upcoming allocations to streamline deliveries and prevent stockpiling of second doses for the two-dose regimens.
Target giving $500 bonuses to its employees for working during COVID-19 pandemic
Logo is visible on facade at Target retail store under dramatic sky in San Ramon, California, May 30, 2020. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)HOUSTON โ Frontline workers at Target will soon see a bit of a pay bump during the early months of 2021. As a thank-you to its employees, Target plans to give out $500 bonuses to all employees in retail stores, distribution centers, field offices and headquarters, the company said in a news release. Store managers, directors, distribution center leaders and executive team leaders will receive a bonus between $1,000 to $2,000. Target also announced more coronavirus benefits for those working during the pandemic will be extended throughout 2021.
Retail group: holiday sales up 8.3% amid big spending shift
The nations largest retail trade group says Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, that holiday sales soared 8.3%, far exceeding its forecast even as the coronavirus kept shoppers away from physical stores. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)NEW YORK โ The nationโs largest retail trade group said Friday that holiday sales soared 8.3%, far exceeding its forecast even as the coronavirus kept shoppers away from physical stores. The retail sales figures exclude sales from autos, restaurants and gas. The non-seasonably adjusted holiday figures, contrast with a downbeat report Friday from the Commerce Department that retail sales fell a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in December from the month before. However, the government reported a 3.7% retail sales gain in November and a 2.9% gain in December compared to the year-ago periods.
U.S. retail sales fell in December for 3rd straight month
(AP Photo/John Raoux)NEW YORK โ Retail sales fell for a third straight month as a surge in virus cases kept people away from stores during the critical holiday shopping season. The U.S. Commerce Department said retail sales fell a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in December from the month before. Department store chain Nordstrom, lingerie seller Victoriaโs Secret and clothing retailer Urban Outfitters all said sales fell during the holidays. The Commerce Department said shoppers cut back on spending at electronic and department stores. At clothing stores, sales rose 2.4% after dropping 16% for the year.
VIDEO: Hilarious James Harden prank video re-emerges online
How would you react if you thought you were approached by James Harden at Target? In a viral video re-emerging online, Target shoppers and employees were less-than-pleased when approached by an imposter imitating the Houston Rockets playerโs famous stepback. The video by comedian Gerald Huston comes from a series of clips in which he pranks shoppers by acting as a professional athlete while wearing their jersey. To date, the hilarious video of Huston pretending to be Harden has garnered nearly 150,000 views on his YouTube and more than one million views on Twitter. Editorโs Note: Use of profanity without censorship is heard throughout the following video.
Target continues to thrive in whirlwind retail environment
Targets strong sales streak extended through the holiday season, as shoppers snapped up everything from clothing to home goods during the pandemic. The Minneapolis company reported Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, that its online sales surged 102% for the November and December period. The retailer reported Wednesday that online sales surged 102% between November and December. Even with the push online, Target's 1,900 locations have become an even greater strength as infections surged and people tried to stay home. Tiffany & Co. last week reported a 2% gain in preliminary holiday sales, helped by strong sales in China and online.
Sephora to take over cosmetics in Kohl's stores
NEW YORK โ Sephora will be replacing all cosmetics areas at Kohl's with 2,500 square foot shops, starting with 200 locations in the fall of year. Earlier this month, Target said it would be opening Ulta Beauty shops in more than 100 stores next year. J.C. Penney said its developing its own cosmetics area to replace Sephora when that agreement ends. Rougeot said Sephora was attracted to Kohl's because of its network of 1,100 stores, mostly outside of malls. The Sephora shops, which will feature about 100 brands, will be at the front of Kohl's stores.