Same Store Retails Sales Show Slowing Growth

Same store sales were up 2.8 percent year-on-year in the February 10 week, slowing again from the prior week's growth pace by 0.2 percentage points, the third consecutive weekly deceleration. Month-to-date sales versus the prior month were down 1.1 percent, posting the weakest reading since November 11, while the full month year-on-year gain fell 0.4 percentage points to 2.8 percent, also the weakest gain since the November 11 week. Decelerating same store sales measures reported by retailers in Redbook's sample in the last three weeks continue to point to softening of ex-auto ex-gas retail sales.