Costco Wholesale Corp. reported strong sales for its third quarter as rising fuel costs drew shoppers to Costco's pumps in record volumes. The membership warehouse club giant’s net sales increased 11.6% to $69.15 billion in the quarter ended May 10. Total revenue, including membership fees, was $70.52 billion, up from $63.20 last year. “The high consumer price sensitivity, which fueled these record volumes, also drove many members to use our gas stations for the very first time in the third quarter,” he told analysts. “We believe this will drive even greater loyalty with these members in the future as members who use our gas stations typically spend more with us in the warehouse.”

New Balance has no plans to stray from its decades-long commitment to American manufacturing. The footwear firm has released its first Made in USA Economic and Social Footprint report focusing on 2023 and 2024 initiatives. The company, who said it is the “only” major athletic footwear manufacturer to maintain U.S. production, disclosed that it invested $155 million in expanding its U.S. factory presence since 2021. Those investments have included the integration of advanced technologies while also preserving skilled craftsmanship that has defined its shoe-making heritage since 1938. The company operate four factories in New England. Two are located in Maine, one in Skowhegan and the other in Norway, as well as two in Massachusetts, one in Lawrence and the other in Methuen. A fifth factory in Londonderry, N.H., is slated to open in early 2026. The report noted that the shoe firm in 2024 contributed $3.1 billion to the U.S. economy, representing a 23 percent increase from $2.5 billion in 2023. The company said that $479 million of that impact came from its U.S. Made operations, underscoring the “vital role domestic manufacturing plays in its U.S. economic footprint.” Its operations employed more than 5,000 across the U.S., including 1,200 Made employees. The company also said that last year, each Made employee supported 2.5x additional U.S. jobs.

Sales in the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled $8.666 billion, an increase of 1.8 percent, compared with sales of $8.515 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016. Comparable sales on an owned basis were up 1.3 percent in the fourth quarter and up 1.4 percent on an owned plus licensed basis. Total sales in the fourth quarter of 2017 reflect a 14th week of sales, whereas comparable sales are on the same 13-week basis as fiscal 2016. Sales in fiscal 2017 totaled $24.837 billion, down 3.7 percent from total sales of $25.778 billion in fiscal 2016. Comparable sales on an owned basis declined 2.2 percent in fiscal 2017. Macy's, Inc.'s operating income for the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled $1.213 billion, or 14.0 percent of sales, compared to $815 million, or 9.6 percent of sales, for the fourth quarter of 2016. Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled $1.397 billion, or 16.1 percent of sales, excluding restructuring and other costs of $152 million and non-cash retirement plan settlement charges of $32 million. For fiscal 2017, Macy's, Inc.'s operating income totaled $1.807 billion, or 7.3 percent of sales, compared with operating income of $1.315 billion, or 5.1 percent of sales, for fiscal 2016. Click Read More below for additional information.