Target CEO Cornell Appears on CNBC: ""We're seeing a great consumer response ... unprecedented traffic. As we go back and look, we've never seen traffic growth like this," Cornell said Wednesday morning on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Video/Read more   Costco in Middleton, WI trashes food after flooding hits area by Barry Adams at Wisconsin State Journal. "There are boxes of pork shoulder, push carts stacked with containers of macaroni and cheese, seasoned pork ribs and key lime pie. At least one cart was overflowing with packages of ground hamburger, while another held whole slabs of beef ribeye that can [...]

  Lowe's Q2 comp sales +5.2% (vs. +5.3% expected) at CNBC. "Looking to the full year, Lowe's (sees) same-store sales climbing as much as 3 percent. The company had previously been calling for...same-store sales (to increase) as much as 3.5 percent." Read more | Press release   ...NEW CFO - Lowe's hires CVS CFO David Denton   Target Q2 comp sales +6.5% / +6.4% traffic growth / comp digital sales +41% Press release   ...Target just had its best quarter in over a decade at CNN Money. "Target's same-store sales growth outpaced rival Walmart, which reported a 4.5% rise last week. Walmart [...]

  Kohl's quarterly comp sales +3.1% (vs. 2.7% expected) at CNBC. Read more   Apple Pay Now Accepted at All Costco Warehouses in United States at MacRumors. "Apple Pay will also be launching at pharmacy chain CVS and convenience store chain 7-Eleven in the U.S. later this year." Read more   J.Jill Q2 comp sales +2.2% Press release   Fortune's 2018 Change the World List (Alibaba #5, Kroger #6) Top 10 list   EUROPE - More than a third of farmed fruit and vegetables never makes it on to shop shelves because it is misshapen or the wrong size at ITV. Read more [...]

  Walmart signs deal to become Anthem's preferred retailer for seniors to buy over-the-counter medicines at CNBC. "Currently, Anthem's Medicare Advantage members whose plans include an OTC benefit can buy items through a catalog available over the phone or online, or they can shop in stores, though not both. In partnering with Walmart, seniors can buy their items online or in stores." Read more   Walmart Parts Ways With Another High-Ranking Female Executive by Matthew Boyle at Bloomberg. "Marybeth Hays, who had served as executive vice president of consumables and health and wellness for just over a year, will leave [...]

  Nordstrom Q2 Comp Sales +4.0% / Digital Sales +23% Press release   ...CNBC: Nordstrom shares soar 10% on earnings beat "(Comp sales) were up 4 percent overall, far surpassing the increase of 0.8 percent that analysts had forecast. That consisted of same-store sales growth of 4.1 percent at Nordstrom's full-price locations, and an increase of 4 percent at Nordstrom Rack." Read more   ...Wall Street Journal: Nordstrom Deserves Better by Elizabeth Winkler. Subscription   Dillard's Q2 Comp Sales +1.0% Press release   GOOGLE FLAGSHIP STORE IN CHICAGO - Google is planning a two-level store in Chicago’s Fulton Market district, its first [...]

  BLOWOUT - Walmart Q2 U.S. Comp +4.5% (vs. +2.4% expected) / + 40% e-com sales growth Press release   ...Sam's Club +5.0%, the strongest growth in six years   ...Reuters: Walmart's second-quarter comparable sales rise most in a decade, shares soar Read more   JCPenney Q2 Comp Sales +0.3% "...total net sales decreased 7.5 %...The decline in total net sales was primarily the result of the 141 stores that closed in fiscal 2017." Press release   ...CNBC: JC Penney shares crater 22% on earnings miss, lowered forecast Read more   Amazon Is in the Running to Buy a Movie Theater Chain by Bloomberg at [...]

  Macy's Q2 Comp Sales: Owned + Licensed +0.5% (vs. Expected -0.9%) "Adjusting for (the calendar shift), the company estimates that comparable sales on an owned plus licensed basis were up 2.9 percent for the second quarter." Press release   ...Reuters: Macy's posts surprise same-store sales growth "Excluding one-time items, the company earned 70 cents per share, much higher than analysts’ expectations of 51 cents." Read more   US retail sales increase strongly in July via CNBC. "The Commerce Department said on Wednesday retail sales increased 0.5 percent last month...Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales nudging up 0.1 percent [...]

  Home Depot Q2 Comp Sales +8.0% Press release   ...CNBC: Home Depot crushes Wall Street expectations, raises full-year outlook  Earnings per share: $3.05 vs. $2.84 expected Revenue: $30.46 billion vs. $30.03 billion expected Same-store sales: up 8 percent globally vs. an increase of 6.6 percent expected Read more   Has Bezos become more powerful in D.C. than Trump? by May Jeong at Vanity Fair. "If you think the JEDI contract is big, consider this: Last year, working for Bezos, Rung helped pass the so-called Amazon amendment, a provision buried in a defense authorization bill that will establish Amazon as [...]