2q

Barnes & Noble Inc., the nation's largest bookseller, said Thursday that second-quarter profit fell 15 percent as it confronts sluggish consumer spending.

BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. says its profit edged up in the second-quarter and is raising its full-year earnings forecast as frugal shoppers look for deals at discounters.

The Home Depot Inc., the nation's largest home improvement retailer, is reporting a 24 percent drop in second-quarter profits but beat expectations.

The company is reiterating its downbeat outlook for the year as it struggles with a weak home market.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Friday that second-quarter profit fell amid a consumer spending slowdown, but the teen-apparel retailer said it will not become more promotional just to drive short-term results.

Nordstrom Inc. says its second-quarter profit dropped 21 percent as its affluent consumers pull back on fashions in a tough economy.

The upscale department store chain also cut its full-year profit forecast.

Department store chain Kohl's says second-quarter profit fell more than 12 percent as same-store sales dipped as consumers continued to pull back their spending.

Thomson Reuters said second-quarter earnings fell 54 percent as costs to buy and integrate Reuters cut into profit.

TJX Cos. says second-quarter profit more than tripled from a year ago as the apparel discount retailer benefits from shoppers looking for cheaper alternatives.

The retailer has also raised its earnings outlook.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported an 8 percent decline in second-quarter profit Friday because it collected fewer insurance premiums and recorded $1 billion in unrealized derivative losses.

On the surface, U.S. companies' second-quarter earnings were fairly respectable when you strip away the financial sector — profits for Standard & Poor's 500 members rose about 10 percent from a year earlier after falling sharply the two previous quarters.