WBRZ - Baton Rouge

NEW YORK-Target reported that its third-quarter earnings rose 22.6 percent, helped by improvements in its credit car business and expansion into food.

The cheap-chic retailer also projected a strong holiday, saying it expected an important sales measure to rise more sharply than it has in three years.

The company said it earned $535 million, or 74 cents per share, in the quarter that ended Oct.30.

That compared with $436 million, or 58 cents per share in the same period a year ago.