Profit increases may be harder to come by, especially for discount retailers attempting to win over cash-strapped households. Discounters are expected to fight to gain market share by paring prices to the bone.

Global retail giant Wal-Mart signaled what shoppers, and its competitors,MBTメンズ, can expect with quarterly results that showed profits fell even as sales rose. Rivals Target and Costco will have to respond to Wal-Mart's aggressive cost-cutting or risk losing sales,doudoune moncler femmes, said Deborah Weinswig, Citi Investment Research retail analyst.

“You’re seeing Wal-Mart take a very aggressive stand on pricing,” she said. “We’re seeing a very new Wal-Mart and they are taking no prisoners.”

Department store chains are turning to exclusive brands to avoid the increasingly intense price competition on items sold elsewhere. Kohl’s said its 20 percent boost in third-quarter profits was helped by strong demand for its exclusive Jennifer Lopez line. About half the company’s sales come from private label or exclusive brands,monster beats by dr dre, up from a quarter in 2004. Macy’s is relying on exclusive brands Tommy Hilfiger,monster beats solo hd, Martha Stewart and Armani jeans to boost its bottom line.