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The Home Depot said Tuesday it agreed to acquire U.S. Home Systems Inc. for $94.9 million in an effort to expand its kitchen and bath resurfacing offerings. Atlanta-based Home Depot will pay $12.50 per share in cash for U.S. Home Systems, or about $94.9 million. U.S. Home Systems had about 7.6 million shares outstanding as of March 31. The offer is a 38 percent premium over its closing share price of $9.06 on Monday. The news sent the stock up $3.35, or 37 percent, to $12.41 in morning trading.

A judge could rule by the end of the week on whether the Jets and the Giants can continue their lawsuit to block construction on the American Dream retail and entertainment complex. Attorneys from the NFL teams and Triple Five, the developer of the American Dream project, met in court Monday to make their arguments. Robert J. Giuffra, an attorney representing the Jets and Giants, said the teams should have a say on any major changes to the project.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s Department Stores has partnered with Elle magazine to offer a new line of apparel and accessories designed to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Available for only $5 and $10 each, the Elle collection features a variety of chic and stylish apparel and accessories that support women’s health. From tees, pajama pants and shorts to scarves, candles and totes, all items are designed in fashionable fall colors and Parisian prints while sporting the signature pink ribbon. In Wisconsin Kohl’s stores, the breast cancer cause merchandise has its own center aisle

4:14 PM MT—Sport Chalet on Wednesday reported its first profitable fiscal first quarter in five years as same-store and online sales showed improvement for the period ended July 1. Net income eked over into the black at $100,000, compared with a loss of $800,000 a year earlier. Comparable-store sales rose 2.9 percent, online sales gained 7 percent and team sales rose 12.5 percent, but these gains were offset by the closure of a store that contributed $1.7 million in sales in the year-ago period, the company reported. Although small, the first-quarter profit comes on the heels of a $3.8

Women's sports apparel company Athleta announced that it will expand into five new markets, including Portland, Seattle, Atlanta, Boston and Cleveland. The announcement was made via Twitter early Wednesday. The move is part of the company's plan to open 50 stores by the end of 2013. Athleta, which makes women's yoga, running and sports apparel, is owned by The Gap, Inc., based in San Francisco. -- The Oregonian

CINCINNATI — After delivering a 22% increase over the prior year in diluted per share for it second quarter (from 55 cents to 67 cents), Macy's Inc. has raised its full-year earnings guidance for 2012. The company now expects earnings per diluted share to range from $3.30 to $3.35, compared with previous guidance for earnings per diluted share of $3.25 to $3.30. Guidance for same-store sales in fiscal 2012 remains unchanged at an increase of approximately 3.7%. Macy's reported second-quarter sales of $6.1 billion, up 3% from total sales of $5.939 billion in the second quarter of 2011. On

The retail industry in general may not be so keen on the new Affordable Care Act, but the nation's largest retailer has come out in support of a Democratic proposal to control spending. Walmart stores is endorsing a new plan, co-authored by former Obama and Clinton administration officials that would slow healthcare spending and keep it in line with wage growth. Read more from the Reuters report here . read more

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s reported net income for the second quarter, ended July 28, of $31.0 million, up from $17.6 million in the year-ago period. Total merchandise sales rose 2% in the quarter to $1.456 billion, compared with $1.426 billion last year. Same-store sales rose 3%. Dillard’s CEO, William T. Dillard, II, stated, “Continuing on the momentum of a successful first quarter, we are proud to report a 97% increase in second quarter earnings per share. Sales were strongest in ladies’ accessories and lingerie, followed by shoes and cosmetics, the company said. Weakest performing categories were home and

While eBay's relationship with Google has become adversarial over the years, with Boston tea parties and legal wranglings, eBay's affiliate program sees no shame in advocating the search giant's social networking site to members. eBay brought its affiliate program in-house in 2008, renaming it the eBay Partner Network. Its blog dispenses advice and features interviews, and on Monday, it published a piece titled, "Should You Be Using Google+?" (link to blog post). However, the author, Scott Parent, says "the social network aspect of Google+ seems to be the least attractive feature for many users." He recommends using Google+ and

Digital marketing intelligence provider AdGooroo released a new report showing how major retailers such as Target, Toys"R"Us and Victoria's Secret outperformed Amazon.com in paid search engine marketing in specific categories, including children's products, fashion and apparel, and auto parts. Additionally, the report unveils the secrets of success employed by these brands.