General Motors says its strategy of offering more fuel

efficient vehicles is paying off; it sold more than 1 million

cars and trucks in 2012 that got at least 30 miles per gallon.

And that policy will continue in 2013 when the company

introduces “new diesel, eAssist and plug-in vehicles in the

United States and expand the availability of turbocharged

four-cylinder engines.”…..Rite Aid is blaming the introduction

of new generic drugs–and a shift in the holiday calendar–

for a 2.2% drop in same store sales in December. Pharmacy

comps fell 2.9%. But relief could be in sight. The Food

and Drug Administration approved 39 new drugs in 2012

and 8 in December alone. That’s the most

in 16 years. DrugStoreNews.com says the

new approvals should mean pharmaceutical

makers “see big gains after billions in losses

in recent years to generic drug makers

because of patent expirations.” ……Burger

King is rolling out its new Chicken Nuggets

nationwide and offering six other menu

items, including Cheesy Tots and Philly

Original Chicken Sandwich, on a limited

time basis……Polaroid and Fotobar plan

to launch a chain of wireless photo editing

and finishing stores this year. First stores will be in Delray

Beach, FL with Boston, Las Vegas, New York and other

markets to follow….Pier 1 is on a roll. It reported same

store sales 8.2% higher than last year in December. Over

the last three years such sales have climbed 29.8%.