Same Store Retail Sales Nudge Up

Same store sales were up 3.3 percent year-on-year in the July 14 week, retreating sharply by 1.9 percentage points from the prior week, which posted the strongest pace of the year. But month-to-date sales versus the prior month did leave negative territory, where they had lingered for several weeks, nudging up to a 0.1 percent gain. Redbook's same store sales point to moderation in ex-auto ex-gas retail sales, though a similar slowdown in sales 3 weeks ago was followed by a quick rebound.