Target

NEW YORK — Consumer spending slowed in October, sending a note of caution as retailers head into the holiday season. Eleven retailers missed expectations for same-store sales, while three chains beat estimates, according to a preliminary tally by Thomson Reuters. However, while the October results were not as promising as some retailers had hoped, sales for the most part rose and most chains reported results that were only slightly off from analysts’ estimates. Some analysts blamed Wall Street for underestimating how much caution is still out there. "This is expectations getting ahead of reality," said AlixPartners managing director Joel

Target's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Doug Scovanner plans to retire from his posts next year. The discounter said that Scovanner will retire on March 31, 2012.

Christmas '11: The Retail Forecast, a half-day conference presented by the Retail Marketing Society on Nov. 1 in New York City, showcased Morgan Stanley analysts naming eight cross-channel retailers they're betting on for success this holiday season.

WASHINGTON – A host of retail groups, retailers and retail property firms have called on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, known as the "Super Committee," to give states more leverage to collect sales taxes from Internet retailers and catalog merchants. About 70 national and state retail organizations and more than 60 retailers and retail property companies have signed a letter to the Super Committee that urges lawmakers to eliminate a loophole that prohibits states from requiring remote sellers to collect sales and use taxes owed on purchases from out-of-state vendors. The groups say the loophole gives online

New York City -- Macy’s announced that its namesake stores across the country will open at midnight on Nov. 25, the midnight of Thanksgiving night, to kick off the 2011 holiday shopping season. It is the first time that Macy’s has opened its doors chainwide at midnight. The company’s Bloomingdale’s unit will open its doors on Black Friday at 8 a.m. Last year, Macy's opened eight stores at midnight. The rest of the stores opened at 4 a.m. Target announced Friday that it was also opening its doors at midnight for the first time ever on Black Friday.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said Tuesday that its CFO and executive VP Doug Scovanner will retire from his posts effective March 31, 2012. He will remain with the company for the next five months to assist with the transition, according to the retailer. A successor has not yet been named. Scovanner has served in his current role since 1999.

Kohl's will open at midnight the day after Thanksgiving, joining fellow retailers Macy's and Target in giving shoppers a head start on what's traditionally been one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

The Walt Disney Company has joined forces with Target and actress, singer and children's author Julie Andrews for the launch of National Princess Week, April 22.

A compilation of this year’s best and brightest ideas in our annual 50 Best Tips issue.

Katherine Field Boccaccio Target Corp. said Friday that it will open its stores across the country at midnight on Thanksgiving for the first time in the retailer’s history.