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Same-store sales decreased 2.5% compared to the prior-year period.

Bouncing back from back-to-back months of declining sales, Walgreen (WAG) said Tuesday its June same-store sales rose by 2%. Walgreen said its overall sales increased by 8.4% last month.

Bebe Stores said it will discontinue operations of its struggling, workout apparel-oriented PH8 division as the company focuses its efforts on improving operations at its namesake Bebe division and developing its 2b Bebe outlet-store concept.

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Retailers are likely to show gains in their June sales when they are released Thursday, but the promotion-driven midyear numbers aren't likely to quell concerns about the industry's uneven recovery.

) Wal-Mart Stores on Friday said its chief merchandising officer John Fleming is leaving the company on Aug. 1 after 10 years of service.

The study shows that 40 percent of smartphone users turn to them when making shopping decisions, and nearly a third say they are more likely to purchase products from companies that use apps, twice as many as those who said the same for companies that utilize social media. The findings, which are based on an online survey conducted in April among 1,004 smartphone owners ages 13-54, also indicate that smartphone owners are generally receptive to advertising in apps, but that iPhone owners appear to be more receptive than owners of other smartphones.

TOKYO (Dow Jones)--Fast Retailing Co. (9983.

A common gripe among U.S. soccer fans is that vuvuzelas, the South African horns heard buzzing throughout the World Cup tournament, are obnoxious noisemakers. But for 365 Inc., the plastic trumpets represent the sweet sound of success. Late last year, the 10-employee online retailer ordered several thousand vuvuzelas on a hunch that they'd become popular among U.S. soccer fans. The Birmingham, Ala., company then promoted the instruments mainly using paid-search advertising on Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. amid minimal competition for relevant search terms such as "soccer horn" and "stadium horn." Since then, the small firm has sold nearly 30,000 vuvuzelas for about $8 each, pulling in roughly $240,000 in revenue.

American Eagle Outfitters announced plans to further expand its international retail presence with stores throughout Israel. The company has signed a multi-year franchise agreement with Fox-Wizel Ltd.

Syms Corp. said Thursday that it narrowed its loss in the first quarter as sales improved following its acquisition of Filene's Basement. The company reported a loss of $809,000 versus a loss of $2 million in the same quarter of the prior year.