Neiman Marcus, BigLots, Costco, ADP Employment

Haves... Needless Markups (Neiman Marcus) Q4 profit +8%; revenue flat; same store sales +3.7%.

However, Feb revenue -5.4%; same store sales -7.4%.

Have nots... Big Lots Q4 profit -12%; revenue -9%; same store sales -0.6%, for the year net income +28%; revenue -2%.

Squeezed in between... Higher gasoline costs force shopping at one location.

Costco, largest warehouse club chain, Q2 profit +31%, revenue +12%; Feb same store sales +7%.

A harbinger for Non Farms Payroll?

ADP Employment Report Feb -23K vs prior +119K Full Report

The announcement was taken as a negative since the results were the worst since 2003 and the consensus called for 18K jobs to be added.

Jan was revised down -11K from +130K. Service sector +47K; goods producing -70K, the 15th consecutive decline;

manufacturing -40K, the 18th consecutive decline; construction -30K; the 15th consecutive decline.

Small firms (<50)+15K; Medium (50 to 499)-4K; Large (>500) -34K.

The 1st decline in medium sized business since June 2003. The number includes only private firms.

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