MILWAUKEE - Although customer satisfaction dropped slightly in the last quarter and has been flat in the past year, household spending should rebound somewhat, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), a leading indicator of consumer spending.
CHICAGO - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Tuesday posted a better-than-expected 15.5 percent jump in quarterly profit due largely to higher sales abroad. The increase helped offset sluggish sales at its U.S. Sam's Club warehouse stores.
After the initial rush to get into the gasoline business, supermarkets and other high-volume operators have entered a more mature stage of market development.
SEATTLE - Costco Wholesale has dropped plans to build a gourmet grocery store in Bellevue, Wash., as the company deals with rising expenses, the Seattle Times reports.
True to its Steel City ethic, the Pittsburgh market leader blends core values, strong family bonds, and plain old hard work to distinguish itself as a key player in an ultra-competitive market.
NEW YORK - Two senior executives at Fleming Cos. have resigned from their posts at the company's discontinued retail operations, a spokesman told Dow Jones Newswires.
