Home Depot investigating possible security breach

Home Depot said on Tuesday it is investigating a possible security breach of its customers' data.

Spokeswoman Paula Drake said in a statement that the retail giant is "looking into some unusual activity" in collaboration with its banking partners and law enforcement officials.

"If we confirm that a breach has occurred, we will make sure customers are notified immediately," Drake said.

The news of the possible breach wasfirst reportedbyKrebs on Security, a Web site dedicated to cybersecurity news.

Home Depot's investigation follows news of security breaches at other high-profile retailers. Last December, Target announced that the credit card information of millions of its customers had been stolen. The company's sales stumbled in the wake of the revelation, and Target has since saidthat the breach has so farcost the firm $146 million.

Home Depot has over 2,200 stores, most of which are in the United States. The retailer has 180 outposts in Canada and 107 stores in Mexico. Headquartered in Atlanta, the home improvement goods store is the fifth-largest retailer in the nation, according to a ranking by the National Retail Federation based on retailers' 2013 sales.

The company in August announced strong second-quarter earnings results, with a solid uptick in overall sales that was in part fueled by accelerating salesof big-ticket items such asappliances, windows and water heaters.

Sarah Halzack is The Washington Post's national retail reporter. She has previously covered the local job market and the business of talent and hiring. She has also served as a Web producer for business and economics news.

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Home Depot investigating possible security breach