ICSC-Goldman's and Redbook Reports Show Slowing Retail Sales

Unseasonably warm weather held back store sales in the November 1 week which, based on ICSC-Goldman's same-store sales tally, fell 1.6 percent compared to the prior week for a year-on-year rate of plus 1.8 percent vs the prior week's 2.8 percent. The report sees sales moving back up as the weather cools.

...meanwhile...

Redbook reports slowing in the November 1 store-sales week with Redbook's year-on-year same-store rate down 5 tenths to plus 3.9 percent. Redbook notes that this year's late week Halloween, which fell on a Friday, may have backfired, having on the one hand boosted sales at those stores focusing on Halloween items but reducing sales at other retailers. Still, Redbook's month-to-month comparison is plus 0.2 percent which offers a marginally positive indication for the ex-auto ex-gas reading of the government's October retail sales report. Individual stores will post their October results on Thursday.