Discount Retailers Have Outpaced Industry in a Month: Ross Stores (ROST) Ross Stores ' (NASDAQ: ROST ) commitment toward better price management, merchandise, cost containment and store expansion plan have been aiding its quarterly performance. A Look at Economic Backdrop Americans are way more confident now, brushing aside recent hiccups like the U.S.-China trade concerns, higher gasoline prices and tightening of monetary policy. 3 Blue Chip Tech Stocks to Buy Now Notably, U.S. retail and food services sales in May advanced 0.8% to $502 billion, following an upwardly revised reading of 0.4% gain in April, per the Commerce Department.