RETAILING

Dayton Hudson Earnings Down 24.6%: Dayton Hudson Corp. reported its earnings fell sharply because of sluggish sales in its department stores. The Minneapolis retailer’s Target discount stores posted strong operating profits, but that was offset by flat or declining profits from department stores including Mervyn’s, Dayton’s, Hudson’s and Marshall Field’s. The retailer posted third-quarter earnings of $43 million, or 53 cents per share, down from $57 million, or 72 cents per share, a year ago. Sales during the quarter ended Oct. 30 rose to $4.63 billion from $4.34 billion. Results included a onetime after-tax charge of 5 cents per share, or $4 million, related to higher federal income taxes.