Provided by Dow Jones
By Sarah Nassauer and Suzanne Kapner Target Corp., Lowe s Cos. and the owner of T.J. Maxx reported robust sales and a jump in store visits during the spring, as Covid-related restrictions eased and people returned to shopping at physical stores. The strong results posted Wednesday followed similar reports earlier this week from other national chains, including Home Depot Inc. and Macy s Inc. Many of these retailers benefited during the pandemic from being able to stay open and the shift to online orders, or they are now capturing pent-up demand as they reopen. The first quarter felt like a first step towards a post-pandemic world, said Target Chief Executive Brian Cornell on a call with analysts Wednesday. With vaccinations rolling out across the country and consumers increasingly comfortable venturing out, we ve seen an enthusiastic return to in-store shopping, he said.