Same Store Retail Sales Remain Soft

Store sales remained soft in the November 14 week, at a same-store year-on-year plus 1.2 percent for Redbook's sample. Unseasonably warm weather continues to hold down demand for seasonal goods. But November, with its Black Friday, is heavily back-loaded, and early weakness in the month can be easily offset. The general trend for core retail sales, based on last week's retail sales report from the government, is solid going into the holidays.