GENERAL MERCHANDISE NEWS
Cold weather boosts Wal-Mart sales
5 February, 2007 | by Retail Bulletin
Wal-Mart said January sales at U.S. stores rose about 2.2 per cent, likely helped by the return of colder weather across much of the USA.
Wal-Mart had forecast a gain of 1 percent to 2 percent. Same-store sales rose 4.7 percent in January 2006. In a re shuffle Wal-Mart has moved John Fleming from head of marketing into the new position of chief merchandising officer as the company tries to boost sales disrupted by weak demand for clothing and store refits. Unusually high temperatures also had dampened consumer purchases of winter coats and hats in December and the early part of January.
