Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports March Sales Results

Consumers’ spirits are getting a boost from the anticipation of COVID-19 stimulus checks and the growing number of vaccinations. The initial reading of consumer sentiment rose to 83 in early March from 76.8 in February according to an index produced by the University of Michigan. It was the index’s highest level in a year. “The gains were widespread across all socioeconomic subgroups and all regions, although the largest monthly gains were concentrated among households in the bottom third of the income distribution as well as those aged 55 or older,” said Richard Curtin, chief economist, Surveys of Consumers, University of Michigan.

Unit sales of print books rose 7.9% in the week ended Oct. 10, 2020, over the comparable week in 2019, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan, with three new titles topping the bestseller list. The two biggest bestsellers were in adult nonfiction, helping to lift unit sales up 7% over the week ended Oct. 12, 2019. Ina Gartner’s Modern Comfort Food sold nearly 129,000 copies in its first week, while Humans by Brandon Stanton followed, selling almost 103,000 copies. Juvenile fiction sales rose 11.9%, led by The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan, which sold close to 49,000 copies in its first week. The biggest increase came in the smallest category, YA nonfiction, where unit sales jumped 63.9% in the week.

At its meeting today, the Bertelsmann Supervisory Board appointed Rolf Hellermann as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the international media, services and education company. Rolf Hellermann, currently CEO of the Bertelsmann subsidiary Arvato Financial Solutions and a member of Bertelsmann’s Group Management Committee, will take up his position as CFO and member of the Bertelsmann Executive Board with effect from January 1, 2021. He succeeds Bernd Hirsch, who is leaving the company at his own request to pursue new professional challenges. Bernd Hirsch had previously asked the Supervisory Board to release him from his position on the Board of Management with effect from the end of the year 2020. The Supervisory Board has complied with this request. Christoph Mohn, Chairman of the Bertelsmann Supervisory Board, said: “I am very pleased that Rolf Hellermann has agreed to serve as CFO of Bertelsmann. He is optimally qualified for this position, has a profound analytical mind, and takes a strategic perspective. He most recently demonstrated his entrepreneurial skills as CEO of Bertelsmann’s fast-growing subsidiary Arvato Financial Solutions. I am convinced that Rolf Hellermann is an ideal choice as a new member of the Executive Board. On behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, I wish him every success in his new position.”