Wal-Mart outlook gives glimpse of economy Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 3:02 pm, Thursday, February 21, 2013 Even as the world's largest retailer on Thursday reported an 8.6 percent rise in fourth quarter profit during the busy holiday shopping season, it offered a weaker forecast for the coming months. The poor and middle-class Americans Wal-Mart caters to — and who are big drivers of spending in the U.S.