Same-Store Retail Sales Growth Slows

Growth slowed abruptly in the October 12 week for Redbook's same-store sales sample which reports a year-on-year plus 4.1 percent rate versus 5.7 percent in the prior week. Weekly sales growth for Redbook has occasionally dipped into the 4 percent range, including recently through much of July and August.

Yet 4.1 percent is nevertheless the lowest rate since July last year and if repeated in the coming weeks ahead would lower expectations for October retail sales and also raise questions over momentum going into the holidays. Retail sales for September will be posted tomorrow and are expected to show moderate-to-solid growth.