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Kronos Incorporated announced the release of its Retail Labor Index, a family of metrics and indices that characterize the current state of the demand and supply sides of the labor market within the U.S. retail sector. The April report includes data for March 2012. The number of applications received by retailers included in the Kronos sample fell 10 percent to 784,941 in March 2012 from an upwardly revised 872,341 in February 2012, all on a seasonally adjusted basis. The level of applications in March was down nearly 250,000 from its level one year ago, when applications reached a near record high.

Woonsocket, R.I. -- A report on Friday by the Wall Street Journal said that CVS Caremark CIO Stuart McGuigan has left the drugstore retailer, and will be holding the same position at Johnson & Johnson. According to the report, originally published in CIO...

March retail sales rose 6.9 percent in March, outpacing the expected 5.3 percent gain, The Wall Street Journal reported. The number compares to last year's growth of 1.7 percent. Sales were helped by unseasonably high temperatures in many parts of the country, and Easter falling two weeks earlier on the calendar than in 2

Callaway Golf Company announced the sale of the Top-Flite brand to Dick's Sporting Goods. The announcement was made by Chip Brewer, president and CEO of Callaway Golf. "The decision to sell Top-Flite reflects the company's renewed focus and commitment to driving the proficiency of our core businesses, specifically the success of Callaway and Odyssey products," said Brewer. "Our strong working relationship with Dick's Sporting Goods went a long way towards the completion of this agreement and we look forward to their stewardship of the Top-Flite brand."

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1 Imports Inc. on Thursday said that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit more than doubled on increased store traffic and a one-time tax benefit that boosted its bottom line. The chain also announced a new three-year growth plan that includes store updates and investments in technology. Pier 1 reported net income of $115.2 million for the three months ended Feb. 25, up from $57.1 million a year earlier. Revenue rose 12% to $476.8 million, from $426.6 million, beating Wall Street's estimate of $474.5 million. Same-store sales rose 10.3%. As part of its new growth plan,

Wal-Mart launched its Women in Factories program, a five-year initiative that will empower 60,000 women working in factories in India, Bangladesh, China and Central America that supply products to Wal-Mart and other retailers. The program will teach critical life skills related to communication, hygiene, reproductive health, occupational health and safety, identifying personal strengths, and gender sensitivity. Up to 8,000 women will also receive leadership training to develop the work and life skills necessary for personal and career development.

Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco Wholesale Corp. plans to open eight new stores by Sept. 2. The membership-only warehouse chain currently operates 601 U.S. stores. Internationally, Costco operates 82 stores in Canada, 32 in Mexico, 22 in the U.K., 13 in Japan, eight in Taiwan, seven in Korea and three in Australia. SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | MOST POPULAR | RSS DDI's RetailDesignDiva blog is dedicated to retail design issues, opinions and frustrations of the day.Read the Diva's recent rantings. DDI's Retail Design Newswire Sign up to receive the latest retail store news, store design trends and store openings,

The Justice Department accused a Home Depot store in Arizona of illegally firing a National Guard soldier because he took too many absences to fulfill his service obligations. In a complaint filed with Arizona's U.S. District Court, the department said Home Depot violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act when it fired Iraq War veteran Brian Bailey in 2010. A Home Depot spokesman disputed the allegations, saying the store's management fired Bailey based on his performance on the job.

Suppliers, retailers and solution providers seeking help on efficient identification, serialization and placement of electronic product code-enabled RFID tags should benefit from new guidelines that were announced by the board of the Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions Association (VICS). The new guidelines, developed by the VICS Item Level RFID Initiative on RFID tag placement and performance, cover how the industry should cooperate to ensure reliable tag performance and data capture deployment.

An affiliate of Phoenix-based private equity investor Najafi Cos. has acquired the well-known SkyMall in-flight catalog and e-commerce business for an undisclosed sum. Although the privately held SkyMall doesn't disclose revenue, annual sales are thought to exceed $100 million. Through its Direct Brands unit, Najafi already sells books, music and other products to members of the various direct marketing clubs it operates in the United States, Canada and Europe. With SkyMall, Najafi sees an opportunity to offer new products to its book- and music-club members and books, music and videos to SkyMall catalog readers.