Same Store Retail Sales Accelerate

Same store sales were up 3.2 percent year-on-year in the March 17 week, accelerating by 0.3 percentage points from the prior week's growth pace. Month-to-date sales versus the prior month were still negative but the decline shrank by 0.2 percentage points to just 0.1 percent, while the full month year-on-year gain picked up by a tick from the prior to week to 3.0 percent. With year-on-year growth steadying at around or slightly above 3.0 percent for most of the first quarter, Redbook's same store sample continues to point to moderately strong and steady ex-auto ex-gas retail sales.