ATLANTA -  The Home Depot reported a $100 million increase in net earnings, which rose 12 percent to $934 million for the third quarter. 

The world's largest home improvement retailer said sales for the third quarter totaled $17.3 billion, up 4.4 percent from the third quarter 2010. 

Storm-related sales drove the improvement, says Frank Blake, CEO. The Home Depot projects  2011 sales will be up 2.5 percent from fiscal 2010.  The Home Depot employs 300,000 at a total of 2,246 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and China.