Wal-Mart flat?

This article talks about the challenges that Wal-Mart has had this year in growing its same store sales and the impact on its stock price. Included is some interesting perspective on the maturation of Wal-Mart's grocery business. It seems some of Wal-Mart's supermarket rivals in some markets have registered stronger same-store retail sales gains than Wal-Mart has achieved. Still, Wal-Mart's efficiency is its saving grace. The article noted Wal-Mart's average store generates far more in sales per square foot than the average Target store.
While Wal-Mart has its critics, one Southern California columnist put up a good defense of the chain here.