Same-Store Retail Sales Continue Sluggish Pace

Same-store sales continued in their sluggish pace in the June 11 week and were up 0.7 percent from the same week a year ago and down 1.0 percent month-over-month from May. Though the month-over-month decline exceeded its minus 0.8 percent forecast, Redbook noted that temperatures have finally warmed to normal levels in many regions and that sales of fans, air conditioners and other hot weather goods did pick up during the week. In other regions, however, sales of seasonal merchandise were already driven by promotional pricing as stores began shifting goods ahead of the fall season.