Shoes, home goods help lift Ross earnings 31%

Discount clothing retailer Ross Stores Inc. said fourth-quarter profit increased 31% on demand for shoes and household items.

Net income rose to $93.1 million, or 66 cents a share, from $71 million, or 49 cents, a year earlier, the Pleasanton, Calif.-based company said. Sales climbed 14% to $1.61 billion.

Demand for shoes and home goods helped the nearly 800-store company report its ninth consecutive quarter in which revenue rose at least 10%.