RETAIL

Circuit City Profits Climb 89%: Circuit City Stores Inc. said third-quarter profits jumped 89% as sales at the company’s consumer electronic stores rose faster than expected. For the quarter ended Nov. 30, Circuit City reported earnings of $16.6 million, or 34 cents a share, from $8.8 million, or 19 cents, in the year-earlier quarter. Sales for the quarter rose 16% to $805.4 million from $694 million a year ago. Sales at stores open at least a year, known as same-store sales, rose 8%. During the quarter, Circuit City opened 26 Superstores for a total of 213 Superstores, seven Circuit City stores and 39 Impulse stores.