Wal-Mart Increases Employee Bonuses

The company, the largest retailer in the nation, said it will pay bonuses to about one million of its hourly workers. Its U.S. work force last year grew by about 33,800, to 1.45 million, the company said.

The Bentonville, Ark.,-based company has been a strong performer throughout the recession, posting solid sales and earnings gains while many other retailers have been suffering double-digit percentage declines.

Mike Duke, who took over as chief executive six weeks ago, announced the bonuses in a memo to employees Thursday.