TARGET

NEW YORK — Weaker than expected December sales at Target will cause fourth quarter profits to come in at the low end of an earlier forecast, the company said.

Sales at Target for the five week period ended December 31, increased 0.8% to $10.2 billion while same store sales were essentially flat, below the company’s guidance which called for an increase in the low single digits. The performance was driven by a low single digit decrease in comparable store transactions, offset by an increase in average transaction size.

ODENTON, Md. — M-Edge — a leading designer of tablet, smartphone and e-reader accessories — on Tuesday launched an expanded line of cases for iPhone 5. The new cases are now available at MEdgeStore.com, as well as at nationwide retailers, including Best Buy, Target and Staples.

NEW YORK — Target has launched new products and a co-pay assistance program for customers with diabetes, the mass merchandise retailer said.

Target announced the release of new blood glucose meters and test strips. The retailer also offers products like alternative site lancets, alcohol prep pads and diabetic nutritional shakes.

The company also announced the launch of a $4 co-pay assistance program, as well as a free private-label blood glucose meter for customers who qualify for the program.

PHILADELPHIA — Commuters in Philadelphia who have forgotten to go holiday shopping may want to head to their nearest bus stop.

The shelter of the bus stop across the street from 30th Street Station includes a display from Target that allows passengers to buy gift items by scanning QR codes with their mobile phones.

LOS ANGELES — The No. 1 ranked weight-management bar in the natural channel, thinkThin, is now available in select Target locations throughout the United States, the company announced Thursday. thinkThin's high-protein, gluten-free nutrition bars are available in 5-count boxes of Chunky Peanut Butter, Brownie Crunch and Caramel Fudge flavors.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced plans to open a new store in Baltimore by October 2013. The retail giant has said approximately 200 new team members will be hired for the new location, part of the Canton Crossing Shopping Center on Boston Street.

A worse than expected 1% decline in November same store sales indicates the holiday season is off to a slow start at Target. The 1% decline was substantially worse than the low single digit increase the company forecast at the start of the month when it reported a 2.4% increase for October that was toward the low end of guidance.

The November weakness suggests traffic trends may be deteriorating at Target, as the company blamed the decline on a decrease in comparable store transactions following that metric’s flat performance in October.

NEW YORK — GoGo Squeez has introduced a new line of squeezable, resealable, spoon-free fruit-in-a-pouch snacks, Fast Fruit, specifically developed for adults. The company decided to expand their kids line of fruit snacks as they learned adults 18 years and older made up 30% of their consumer base.