OfficeMax reports earnings

NAPERVILLE - OfficeMax Inc. announced that its sales fell 4 percent to $1.81 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009. During the quarter, the office-supply retailer lost $3.2 million, or 4 cents a share, compared with a loss of $396 million, or $5.21 a share, in the year-ago period. OfficeMax said it expects to post a report of sales growth in 2010. Analysts, however, are forecasting a 1.7 percent sales decline.