Sales of traditional toys, which exclude items like video games and seasonal outdoor products, rose 7percentt.
Economists also point to core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as energy, and has stuck around just 0.8% since the summer, suggesting there is little underlying upward pressure on prices.
Adjusted profit from continuing operations, which excludes special items, was 69 cents.
The projected loss, which excludes unusual items, translates to $2.38 a share.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile items like gasoline and is considered the best gage of underlying price trends, is expected to bottom at 1.1percentt in the fourth quarter.
The core rate of inflation, which excludes volatile items, such as energy and food, eased last month to 0.8% from 0.9% in May.
3M reiterated that it expects 2008 profit to increase at least 10percentt over 2007 earnings of $4.98 a share, which excludes special items.
The core rate of inflation, which excludes volatile items like food and energy, rose to 1.7% in February from 1.6% in January.
The core portion of the country's consumer price index, which excludes volatile items like gasoline and mortgage interest, was 1.6percentt in November, compared with 1.8percentt in October.
Income from continuing operations, which excludes special items, was 28 cents a share, topping analysts' estimates for 27 cents a share.
