Cold Weather Did Not Hurt Retail Sales Last Week

Extreme cold in the November 22 week didn't hurt chain-store sales based on ICSC-Goldman's same-store sales surge of 2.2 percent. The report said weather had offsetting effects, raising demand for winter goods but keeping shoppers in doors at the same time. The key to the week, according to the report, was promotions going into the Black Friday week

...meanwhile...

Cold weather didn't hurt chain-store sales in the November 22 week.  Redbook whose same-store sales index rose to a year-on-year plus 4.2 percent vs 3.9 percent in the prior week. Both reports cite markdowns as a key factor in the week, markdowns that Redbook is warning are hurting gross margins. This time next week ICSC-Goldman and Redbook will cover the Black Friday week which will offer key indications on holiday spending.