Bargain-shopping will define the season for some big-box retailers that reported earnings today.

Target Corp. says markdowns and sales will drive holiday traffic, apparently as the big-box chains combat each other over attracting customer traffic. Walmart and Kohl's also issued recent similar statements.

What that will mean for consumers will play out over coming weeks, as the stores get a sense of sales traffic.

Sales were up 1.4 percent in the third quarter at Target, officials reported today, but that came with some caution for investors as they look toward fourth quarter results.

"In light of the current and projected economic environment and expectations for a highly promotional holiday season, Target remains cautious about fourth quarter performance and is planning conservatively in both business segments," executives at the company said in a statement.

Local stores include locations on Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ford Road in Canton and Grand River in Brighton.

Here's a Wall Street Journal article that gives details on the Target outlook.