Same Store Retail Sales Soft

Retail sales are looking very soft based at least on Redbook's sample which has been reporting, mostly in contrast to solid government data, soft results since way back in March. Same-store sales are up only 0.7 percent for the October 3 week which is the weakest Redbook reading of the year. The report doesn't offer any meaningful commentary on the weakness but does say seasonally cooler weather is now helping sales at specialty and department stores.