Buckle reported comparative sales up 10.8%, Gap beat expectations with a 1% increase and Limited Brands reported a 12% increase in sales for June.

FORBES: Retail Extravaganza: June Sales Beat Estimates

What caused this gap between expectations and reality?

FORBES: Sorting Out the Clouds

One other gap between expectations and reality: Despite numerous studies showing that there is a high demand for graduates with engineering and computer science degrees, new grads most want to work in education, media and entertainment, and healthcare.

FORBES: College Graduates' Expectations Are Out Of Line with Reality, Says Study