Retail Sales Reports Show Mixed Data

Chain stores in ICSC-Goldman's sample report strength in sales in the November 8 week, up a same-store 1.5 percent compared to the prior week. Year-on-year, ICSC-Goldman's sales rate is plus 2.1 percent for a 3 tenths gain. The report cites the favorable effect of low gas prices for the sales increase.

...meanwhile...

Redbook's chain-store sample continues to report soft sales, at a year-on-year same-store plus 3.8 percent in the November 8 week which is down 1 tenth from the prior week and 5 tenths from the week before that. Month-to-month, Redbook's index is getting off to a very slow start, at minus 1.0 percent vs a target for plus 0.1 percent. Redbook cites the mid-term election, held November 4, as a negative factor in the latest week. Redbook notes that some retailers are gearing up even faster than usual for the holidays including getting displays out earlier, cutting prices, and extending hours.