Same Store Retails Sales Continue Deceleration

Same store sales were up 3.0 percent year-on-year in the February 3 week, slowing from the prior week's growth pace by 0.2 percentage points. Month-to-date sales versus the prior month were unchanged, while the full month year-on-year gain remained at 3.2 percent. Redbook's same store sales continue to show deceleration from the exceptional strength at year end, when the year-on-year gain attained a 3-year high of 5.7 percent, and point to moderate strength in ex-auto ex-gas retail sales.