Pumpkin spice priced nice: Kickstart holiday shopping early with these great deals in October
Read full article: Pumpkin spice priced nice: Kickstart holiday shopping early with these great deals in OctoberConsumer Reports reveals products at deep discounts to help kickstart the holiday shopping season.
A tale of two retailers: Target reverses sales slump while Macy's reports another quarterly decline
Read full article: A tale of two retailers: Target reverses sales slump while Macy's reports another quarterly declineGrocery aisle deals for cash-strapped customers and an emphasis on affordable but stylish clothes has helped Target reverse a year-long sales slump.
Stock market today: Wall Street pulls closer to records after retailers top profit forecasts
Read full article: Stock market today: Wall Street pulls closer to records after retailers top profit forecastsU.S. stocks ticked higher after more big companies delivered profit reports that topped analysts’ expectations.
How Target’s ‘School Assist Program’ is simplifying back-to-school shopping this season
Read full article: How Target’s ‘School Assist Program’ is simplifying back-to-school shopping this seasonMonday began a two-week tax-free holiday in Florida, which can be the perfect opportunity for families to get their back-to-school shopping done.
Stores are more subdued in observing Pride Month. Some LGBTQ+ people see a silver lining in that
Read full article: Stores are more subdued in observing Pride Month. Some LGBTQ+ people see a silver lining in thatWith Pride Month in full gear, U.S. shoppers can find the usual merchandise many stores stock for the June celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and rights.
The art of drag is a target. With Pride Month near, performers are organizing to fight back
Read full article: The art of drag is a target. With Pride Month near, performers are organizing to fight backAbout 10 drag artists from around the United States are banding together to protect and promote their art form.
Memorial Day savings at Target
Read full article: Memorial Day savings at TargetThe retailer recently announced a significant reduction in everyday regular prices on approximately 5,000 frequently shopped items across its assortment. As consumers face increasing pressure to stretch their budgets, these price cuts are expected to collectively save them millions of dollars this summer. These reductions are in addition to the retailer’s everyday low prices.
Deep discounts may benefit shoppers but may not help the economy, financial expert says
Read full article: Deep discounts may benefit shoppers but may not help the economy, financial expert saysA Jacksonville financial expert said corporations slashing prices for inflation may help shoppers, but it isn’t guaranteed to be good for the economy.
Target to reduce number of stores carrying Pride-themed merchandise after last year's backlash
Read full article: Target to reduce number of stores carrying Pride-themed merchandise after last year's backlashTarget confirmed that it won’t be carrying its LGBTQ+ merchandise for Pride month in June in some stores after the discount retailer received a backlash last year for its assortment.
Tests find concerning levels of lead, cadmium in Lunchables
Read full article: Tests find concerning levels of lead, cadmium in LunchablesLunchables and similar kinds of lunch kits are simply not healthy for kids. CR’s tests found these kits contain concerning sodium levels and harmful chemicals that can lead to serious health problems over time.
US consumers remain confident, but their feelings about the near future are a bit more cloudy
Read full article: US consumers remain confident, but their feelings about the near future are a bit more cloudyU.S. consumer confidence held steady this month even as Americans are still concerned about high prices and feeling less optimistic about the short-term future.
Target launches new paid membership program in a bid to drive sales at a time of cautious spending
Read full article: Target launches new paid membership program in a bid to drive sales at a time of cautious spendingTarget, looking for ways to reverse a sales malaise, is getting into Amazon territory: the paid membership game.
Target stops selling product dedicated to Civil Rights icons after TikTok video shows errors
Read full article: Target stops selling product dedicated to Civil Rights icons after TikTok video shows errorsTarget says it will stop selling a product dedicated to Civil Rights icons after a now-viral TikTok video spotlighted some significant errors.
The secret life of gift cards: Here's what happens to the billions that go unspent each year
Read full article: The secret life of gift cards: Here's what happens to the billions that go unspent each yearAmericans are expected to spend nearly $30 billion on gift cards this holiday, according to the National Retail Federation.
What stores are open and closed on Christmas Day in 2023? Hours for Walmart, Kroger, CVS and more
Read full article: What stores are open and closed on Christmas Day in 2023? Hours for Walmart, Kroger, CVS and moreWith Christmas right around the corner, you might want to check the list of what stores are open (and closed) twice.
Amazon, Target and more will stop selling water beads marketed to kids due to rising safety concerns
Read full article: Amazon, Target and more will stop selling water beads marketed to kids due to rising safety concernsThree major U.S. retailers — Amazon, Target and Walmart — say they’re suspending sales of water-bead products marketed to young children due to growing safety concerns.
Black Friday 2023: See Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Kohls, Home Depot, Macy’s store hours
Read full article: Black Friday 2023: See Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Kohls, Home Depot, Macy’s store hoursBlack Friday is almost upon us, when retailers kick off the holiday season with offers meant to get customers in the shopping mood.
Macy's puts up strong third quarter numbers, raises profit outlook and top end of full-year revenue
Read full article: Macy's puts up strong third quarter numbers, raises profit outlook and top end of full-year revenueMacy’s third-quarter sales declined as consumers remain cautious on their spending, but the results and its adjusted profit both topped Wall Street’s expectations.
Target tops third quarter profit expectations, but inflation weighs on shoppers
Read full article: Target tops third quarter profit expectations, but inflation weighs on shoppersTarget on Wednesday reported a hefty third-quarter profit increase that handily beat Wall Street expectations, benefiting from efforts to hold down costs.
Stock market today: Asian shares fall over China-US jitters following Biden's meeting with Xi
Read full article: Stock market today: Asian shares fall over China-US jitters following Biden's meeting with XiAsian shares have retreated after Wall Street added a bit more to its big rally from a day before.
Check your eye drops, certain products can cause an eye infection
Read full article: Check your eye drops, certain products can cause an eye infectionThe FDA issued warnings about 27 eye drop products that contain bacteria that could cause eye infections and potentially lead to vision loss or blindness.
Target to close 9 stores, including 3 in the San Francisco Bay Area, citing safety concerns
Read full article: Target to close 9 stores, including 3 in the San Francisco Bay Area, citing safety concernsTarget says it's closing nine stores in four states, including one in New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood, and three in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Retail sales rise 0.6% in August largely due to a spike in gas prices
Read full article: Retail sales rise 0.6% in August largely due to a spike in gas pricesAmericans stepped up retail spending modestly from July to August as the price of gasoline jumped, cutting into budgets as many families send their kids off to school.
Wholesale price inflation accelerated in August from low level
Read full article: Wholesale price inflation accelerated in August from low levelU.S. wholesale prices increases accelerated in August, a sign that inflation remains stubbornly persistent despite a series of sharp interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.
Target Q2 sales fall on muted spending, Pride month backlash, and it cuts profit outlook for 2023
Read full article: Target Q2 sales fall on muted spending, Pride month backlash, and it cuts profit outlook for 2023Target 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.
Large police presence reported at multiple Target stores in Jacksonville; reason unclear
Read full article: Large police presence reported at multiple Target stores in Jacksonville; reason unclearThe Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is responding to at least three Jacksonville Target stores on Thursday night, according to multiple calls and emails received by News4JAX.
GOP attorneys general shift the battle over affirmative action to the workplace
Read full article: GOP attorneys general shift the battle over affirmative action to the workplaceThirteen Republican state attorneys general are cautioning CEOs of the 100 biggest U.S. companies on the legal consequences for using race as a factor in hiring and employment practices.
Consumers are spending, but Wall Street and businesses expect a tighter squeeze ahead
Read full article: Consumers are spending, but Wall Street and businesses expect a tighter squeeze aheadMacy’s, Target and Dollar General are warning investors their sales will suffer this year as consumers shift spending to essentials.
Pride becomes a minefield for big companies, but many continue their support
Read full article: Pride becomes a minefield for big companies, but many continue their supportDozens of big companies from Delta and Coca-Cola to Walmart are sponsoring LGBTQ+ Pride events and displaying racks of Pride-themed merchandise.
LGBTQ+ activists call for new strategies to promote equality after Target backlash
Read full article: LGBTQ+ activists call for new strategies to promote equality after Target backlashActivists in the LGBTQ+ community are calling for new ways to mobilize against threats to their long fight for equality.
Why is Target pulling some Pride merch? The retailer's response to hostile backlash, explained
Read full article: Why is Target pulling some Pride merch? The retailer's response to hostile backlash, explainedTarget is removing some items and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide after intense backlash from some shoppers ahead of Pride month.
Target becomes latest company to suffer backlash for LGBTQ+ support, pulls some Pride month clothing
Read full article: Target becomes latest company to suffer backlash for LGBTQ+ support, pulls some Pride month clothingTarget 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.
Walmart shines in rough retail environment, ratchets up outlook after strong first quarter
Read full article: Walmart shines in rough retail environment, ratchets up outlook after strong first quarterWalmart reported strong first-quarter sales results as the nation’s largest retailer’s low-prices continue to draw budget conscious consumers in a challenging economic environment of stubbornly high inflation.
Target wrestles with pullback in spending and theft that may cost retailer more than $1B this year
Read full article: Target wrestles with pullback in spending and theft that may cost retailer more than $1B this yearTarget has reported another quarterly profit decline and issued a cautious sales and profit outlook for the current period.
CVS pharmacies in Florida roll out time-delay safes to deter drug robberies
Read full article: CVS pharmacies in Florida roll out time-delay safes to deter drug robberiesAll 838 CVS Pharmacy locations throughout Florida, including those in Target stores, have new time-delay safe technology installed, News4JAX sister station WKMG reported.
Tepid outlook from Target after 4th quarterly profit dip
Read full article: Tepid outlook from Target after 4th quarterly profit dipTarget plans to invest as much as $5 billion this year expanding services for customers, including a drive up service for returns, renovations at 175 stores and improvements in online shopping.
Convicted thief now facing felony charge of organized fraud after reported theft at Target
Read full article: Convicted thief now facing felony charge of organized fraud after reported theft at TargetA man who, records show, has a history of stealing from Target stores explained to an investigator how he kept pulling it off.
Armed man shot inside Target got rifle 4 days earlier
Read full article: Armed man shot inside Target got rifle 4 days earlierPolice say the man who was fatally shot by police after entering a Target store in Omaha, Nebraska, armed with an AR-15-style rifle had obtained the weapon just four days earlier at a sporting goods store.
US retail sales rose 1.3% last month, a sign of resilience
Read full article: US retail sales rose 1.3% last month, a sign of resilienceAmericans stepped up their spending at retailers, restaurants, and auto dealers last month, a sign of consumer resilience as the holiday shopping season begins amid painfully high inflation and rising interest rates.
Target's 3Q profit drops 52% as shoppers force price cuts
Read full article: Target's 3Q profit drops 52% as shoppers force price cutsAn 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.
Target takes a hit after heavy discounts to clear inventory
Read full article: Target takes a hit after heavy discounts to clear inventoryTarget has reported solid sales for the fiscal second quarter but its profits plunged nearly 90% because it slashed prices to clear unwanted inventories of clothing, home goods and other discretionary items.
Indian government approves new emissions targets
Read full article: Indian government approves new emissions targetsNine months after India announced its target of “net zero” emissions by 2070 at the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow, the country’s federal cabinet finally approved a new climate plan on Wednesday.
US growth in Q4 revised lower to 6.9%, slower growth to come
Read full article: US growth in Q4 revised lower to 6.9%, slower growth to comeThe U.S. economy ended 2021 by expanding at a healthy 6.9% annual pace from October through December, the government reported Wednesday, a slight downgrade from its previous estimates.
Target to invest up to $5 billion to fuel more growth
Read full article: Target to invest up to $5 billion to fuel more growthTarget will invest up to $5 billion this year in physical stores, new brands and expanding its online fulfilment as the discounter continues to drive sales growth and differentiate itself from rivals.
Target seeks to entice workers with pay of up to $24 an hour
Read full article: Target seeks to entice workers with pay of up to $24 an hourWorkers at Target stores and distribution centers in places like New York, where competition for finding and hiring staff is the fiercest, could see starting wages as high as $24 an hour this year.
Man accused of taking upskirt photos in Clay County Target store
Read full article: Man accused of taking upskirt photos in Clay County Target storeThe Clay County Sheriff’s Office has released an image of a man it said was taking photos up a woman’s dress inside a Target store in Fleming Island. Now deputies are searching for him.
Black Friday: Shopping Online Vs. In-Store
Read full article: Black Friday: Shopping Online Vs. In-StoreJessica Morgan from Jacksonville Mom joined us on our Countdown to Black Friday River City Live Special to give you some tips on when to online vs. in-store. Here are some pointers to help you tackle Black Friday this year.
Minnesota State Patrol purged messages after Floyd protests
Read full article: Minnesota State Patrol purged messages after Floyd protestsCourt testimony shows that the Minnesota State Patrol purged emails and text messages immediately after protests over the death of George Floyd during which the agency is accused of targeting journalists.
With sales still surging, Best Buy raises prospects for 2021
Read full article: With sales still surging, Best Buy raises prospects for 2021Best Buy Co. is raising its full-year sales outlook after the nation’s largest consumer electronics chain posted fiscal second-quarter results that beat analysts’ projections.
45% of Floridians have received at least 1 COVID-19 shot
Read full article: 45% of Floridians have received at least 1 COVID-19 shotTarget and CVS are no longer requiring fully vaccinated customers to wear face masks in stores, joining several other U.S. retailers changing their rules after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guidance.
Target, CVS join chains making masks optional for fully vaccinated shoppers
Read full article: Target, CVS join chains making masks optional for fully vaccinated shoppersTarget, CVS, Winn-Dixie, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Starbucks have all announced they’re dropping their requirements that fully vaccinated customers wear face coverings in their stories, following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance issued Thursday.
From bare shelves to limits on toilet paper: What’s changed since beginning of pandemic
Read full article: From bare shelves to limits on toilet paper: What’s changed since beginning of pandemicThere is no toilet paper. There are no paper towels back there, and they’re kind of rationing out the waters,” said shopper Marie Norman. Limits on certain grocery items became necessary, including toilet paper. The Bacardi plant in Jacksonville started producing hand sanitizer. At the stores today, toilet paper is stocked and hand wipes are readily available.
Unique getaway: Tru by Hilton opens 106-room hotel in Mandarin
Read full article: Unique getaway: Tru by Hilton opens 106-room hotel in MandarinJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tru by Hilton just opened its doors at its tucked-away spot in Jacksonville’s south Mandarin area located near Whole Foods, Publix and Target. The four-story, 106-room hotel at 2970 Hartley Road opened its doors on Feb. 16 and is one of five that the brand intends to open in the area. The “Tru” brand is a newer, more modernized version described as “minimal but meaningful.”The Tru by Hilton brand promotes its rooms with “open shelves, doorless closets and wood-like flooring,” along with a “large TV and premium channels” that create an open feel. Game area at Try by Hilton in Mandarin“Our hotel rooms are minimal but meaningful,” said Kyle Stanton, night auditor at Tru by Hilton. The lobby provides plenty of seating for any guests wanting to eat food, work, or just relax.”Pool area at Tru by Hilton in MandarinRoom rates are available online.
Spike in hospitality jobs led employment gains
Read full article: Spike in hospitality jobs led employment gainsThe February gain marked a sharp pickup from the 166,000 jobs that were added in January and the loss of 306,000 in December. Bars and restaurants, in particular, snapped back, adding 286,000 jobs as business restrictions eased in California and other 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.
Target powers through a pandemic; 2020 sales growth explodes
Read full article: Target powers through a pandemic; 2020 sales growth explodesFILE - 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
Read full article: US jobless claims at 730K, still high but fewest in 3 monthsThe 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
Read full article: Federal Reserve sees modest pickup in hiring this monthThe 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 – 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.
US consumer prices up 0.3% in January, led by energy spike
Read full article: US consumer prices up 0.3% in January, led by energy spikeU.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 – 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. “Consumer price inflation remains very tame,” 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
Read full article: Biden boosting vaccine allotments, financing for virus costsStarting 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.
Retail group: holiday sales up 8.3% amid big spending shift
Read full article: Retail group: holiday sales up 8.3% amid big spending shiftThe 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 – The nation’s 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
Read full article: U.S. retail sales fell in December for 3rd straight monthA sale sign is displayed near the entrance of a Hallmark store Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. Retail sales fell for a third straight month, as a surge in virus cases kept people away from stores and restaurants during the holiday shopping season. The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday that retail sales fell a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in December from the month before, a decline Wall Street analysts weren't expecting. The Commerce Department said sales even fell online, down nearly 6% after rising 19% for the year. At restaurants and bars, sales fell 4.5% in December as states restricted in-person dining, ending the year down 21%. The nation’s largest retail trade group said that when car, restaurant and gas sales are taken out, and when non-seasonably adjusted numbers are compared from a year ago instead of month to month, sales in November and December actually rose 8.3% from the year before.