Same-Store Retail Sales Pick Up

After breaking to the slowest pace in a month in the prior week, same-store sales growth picked up slightly in the November 23 week to a year-on-year 4.4 percent, still strong but short of the 5.0 percent seen in late October and early November. The loss of retail momentum going into the opening of the holiday shopping season on Black Friday, November 29, may signal less than robust sales during this key period for many retailers.