NRF

WASHINGTON -- Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway and global retailer Ahold, based in Amsterdam, are the latest grocers to join retail trade group the National Retail Federation here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the National Retail Federation were among the trade groups that praised the White House and Congress yesterday for passing the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Even Wal-Mart issued a supportive statement about the plan, which observers hope will help boost the economy during the second half of the year.

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Brazilian food and general merchandise retailer Grupo Pão de Açúcar plans to deploy an enterprise-wide software solution to consolidate its IT infrastructure and gain increased visibility into business operations.

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Brazilian food and general merchandise retailer Grupo Pão de Açúcar plans to deploy an enterprise-wide software solution to consolidate its IT infrastructure and gain increased visibility into business operations.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will open the first of its four second generation of high-efficiency stores (known as "HE.2"), which will use 25 percent less energy than the baseline Wal-Mart Supercenter, Jan. 23 in Romeoville, Ill. The location melds what the megaretailer has learned from its successful first-generation high-efficiency stores (HE.1) with new cutting-edge technologies. As well as saving energy, the new stores will considerably reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lowering refrigerant by 90 percent, according to Wal-Mart.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will open the first of its four second generation of high-efficiency stores (known as "HE.2"), which will use 25 percent less energy than the baseline Wal-Mart Supercenter, Jan. 23 in Romeoville, Ill. The location melds what the megaretailer has learned from its successful first-generation high-efficiency stores (HE.1) with new cutting-edge technologies. As well as saving energy, the new stores will considerably reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lowering refrigerant by 90 percent, according to Wal-Mart.

NEW YORK -- The National Retail Federation released its 2008 economic forecast here yesterday, predicting that retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 3.5 percent from last year. According to its quarterly Retail Sales Outlook report, released at NRF's 97th Annual Convention & EXPO, NRF expects the slow pace in sales growth to continue before picking up in the second half of the year.

NEW YORK -- The National Retail Federation released its 2008 economic forecast here yesterday, predicting that retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 3.5 percent from last year. According to its quarterly Retail Sales Outlook report, released at NRF's 97th Annual Convention & EXPO, NRF expects the slow pace in sales growth to continue before picking up in the second half of the year.