Wal-Mart today reported a 2 per cent rise in second-quarter income as consumers bought essential items such as food and household cleaners from it in the stalled US economy.
Net income in the quarter ended July 31st for Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, climbed to $1.622 billion compared with $1.596 billion a year earlier.
Second-quarter sales rose to $52.799 billion, up from $46.11 billion a year earlier. Sales at stores open at least a year rose 5.7 per cent.