Costco Wholesale Corp.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Shoppers in hurricane-prone states know just how quickly things can take a turn for the worse. Thanks to the Wal-Mart Television Network, Wal-Mart shoppers in the Southeast will now know exactly what the weather is doing throughout their shopping trip, right up until the time they check out.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Strong international sales growth and the timing of the Fourth of July holiday, which added another day to the reporting period, boosted Costco Wholesale Corp.'s net sales and total comp sales for the 5-weeks ended July 3.

TROY, Mich. -- Kmart, based here, said it will shutter three Super Kmart stores in the Memphis, Tenn. area, but industry observers say it could only be a matter of time before the discount chain, which completed a merger with Sears in March, does away with its ailing food-retailing business altogether.

YONKERS, NY -- Store brands get a shot in the arm from the current issue of Consumer Reports, the shopping advice magazine published by the independent organization Consumers Union here.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. and NATICK, Mass. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. and BJ's Wholesale Club both racked up sales increases this past month -- but BJ's saw room for improvement as the company hoped for improved weather in the coming weeks.

ISSAQUAH, Wash -- Costco Wholesale Corp. may be experiencing a boost in sales and revenue, but of its food items, apparently only perishables are contributing to this growth, according to the warehouse club's operating results for the third quarter and thirty-six weeks ended May 8.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- The Wal-Mart Television Network's strategic programming platform in 515 targeted Wal-Mart stores with highly concentrated Hispanic populations will receive support from Premier Retail Networks, Inc., the wholly owned subsidiary of San Francisco-based PRN Corp., in partnership with U.S. Spanish-language television network Telemundo.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Citing rising gasoline prices as the culprit, Costco today warned investors that profits for the second half of its fiscal year will not meet expectations.