RETAIL NEWS

While the C/A/S tablet and liquid subcategories have seen little change in sales versus year-ago sales, the UR nasal subcategory saw impressive growth in the channels studied, due in large part to the recent Rx-OTC switch products in the nasal corticosteroid segment, driving sales up 15% in the food industry and up to10% in drug. (see Figure 1).

(To view the full report, click here.)

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale reported net sales of $9.08 billion for the month of January, an increase of 9% compared to $8.32 billion in sales during the same period in 2016.

U.S. comparable-store sales for the four week period ended Jan. 29 increased 6% year over year. When excluding impacts from gasoline prices and foreign exchange, U.S. comparable-store sales increased 5% year over year. For the total company, comp-store sales rose 7%.

With more Americans reaching their golden years and the country’s healthcare system stressing home care as a way to drive down costs, products to meet these consumers’ conditions are gaining more attention and increasingly finding their way into drug stores’ mix.

(To view the full Home Health Care Report, click here.)

Americans can’t do enough for their furry friends. To that end, growth continues to be the watchword in the pet care category.

Research released by the American Pet Products Association, or the APPA, indicated that American consumers would spend a total of $62.75 billion on pet supplies and care in 2016, up from $60.28 in 2015 and $58.04 in 2014.

Overall, the sale of all sleep remedies were up 6.1% to $707.9 million across total U.S. multi-outlets for the 52 weeks ended Nov. 27, 2016, according to IRI. Procter & Gamble’s ZzzQuil still leads the category. Sales of the liquid formulation are outpacing category growth with an uptick of 8.4% to $85.3 million, or 12% of total category sales.

(To view the full Cough-Cold Report, click here.)

America’s selfie-, Instagram- and overall social media-obsessed habits are propelling growth of oral care products promising instant fixes.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)