Content about e-readers

NEW YORK — Barnes & Noble reported on Thursday a loss in the fiscal third quarter, hurt by a 26% decline in revenue for its Nook e-book readers.

The company posted a loss of $6.1 million quarter through Jan. 26, compared to a profit of $52 million in the year-ago period. The retailer blamed the loss partially on charges stemming from weaker-than-expected sales of Nook e-readers during the holiday shopping season.

Revenue fell 9% to $2.22 billion. Analysts had predicted sales of $2.4 billion.

Sales in the consumer electronics space would have been abysmal in 2011 were it not for tablet and e-readers, according to data from market researcher The NPD Group, which shows Target has an opportunity to gain share.

Target’s recent moves to deepen its relationship with Apple could be beneficial in that regard, as it was Apple that drove CE activity in 2011 and is likely to do so again in 2012. Currently, Target is not among the top five CE retailers, which NPD lists as Best Buy, Walmart, Apple and a tie between Staples and Amazon.

MINNEAPOLIS — Earnings and comparable-store sales slipped at Best Buy, where the retailer suffered slower sales in key departments and a slowdown in consumer spending. Best Buy  has reported net earnings of $177 million, or 47 cents per diluted share, for its fiscal second quarter ended Aug. 27, compared with $254 million, or 60 cents per diluted share, for the prior-year period.

Boasting a high resolution screen, long battery life and fast page-turn performance, a new e-reader called the iriver Story HD is set to hit Target stores this weekend. The product is a big deal because it integrates with Google eBooks and Target will be the exclusive retailer of the device, at least for a while as exclusives on hot new electronics items tend to be fleeting.

This Mother’s Day is shaping up to be a battle between Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook, with the popular e-readers featured on the cover of circulars from Target and Walmart that dropped this past weekend.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Borders Group announced it will open 25 seasonal Borders Express stores nationwide to serve customers during the holiday season. The stores are expected to officially open Oct. 25 and will operate through Jan. 31.

Averaging about 2,500 sq. ft., each store will carry top titles and big new releases, Halloween  and holiday-themed items, a selection of kids books, plush and toys as well as an assortment of e-readers and related accessories, the company reported.