Same Store Retail Sales Slowing, Still Strong

Same store sales were up 6.3 percent year-on-year in the September 8 week, slowing by 0.2 percentage points from the prior week, which posted the strongest year-on-year growth in over 13 years. Month-to-date sales versus the prior month were up 0.8 percent, matching the second strongest reading of the year for this comparison, while the full month year-on-year gain widened by 1.2 percentage points to 6.3 percent, the highest level recorded this year. Redbook's same store sample sales are showing exceptional year-on-year growth in recent weeks, pointing to similar strength in ex-auto ex-gas retail sales for the period.