Arthur - here is the current Johnson Redbook Survey, and a few other related links.
Posted:
The Johnson Redbook
lp-llc.com
The Redbook Total-Store Average in the fourth and final week of retail
October declined slightly to 7.1% form 7.5% the previous week. However, the
third of three consecutive weeks of stronger sales after a soft opening week
continued to raise October's average, which ended at 6.8%, or 0.7% better
than September. This was slightly better than our retailer sample's (and
Redbook's) targets of 6.7% and 0.6% respectively.
Sales appeared to lose some of their recent momentum in the final week.
Certain retailers said the strong demand for apparel which drove business in
the previous two weeks, had flattened, and even those companies which
continued to post double-digit gains in soft-line categories generally noted
a tailing-off by the week-end. The week also was affected (probably
negatively on balance) by Halloween, which boosted volume at those stores
that cater to it, but kept shoppers away on Friday, typically an important
shopping day. (Some retailers said they had planned for, and recorded,
negate numbers at certain outlets because of Halloween.) In either case,
there was a sense that the sharp weather related upturn in apparel sales
seen during October was ending, and attention was increasingly being focused
on the major end-of-year landmarks of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and their
holiday-related promotional and seasonal features.
While our sample ended ahead of plan in October, the final month of the
retail quarter, we estimate that after September's weakness, its aggregate
third quarter sales target was not met. Early indications are that
fourth-quarter targets will be set slightly lower. We also note that the
sales base for retail November, commencing next week, is somewhat below
October's, and the month-to-month break-even level for the Total-Store
Average will be 8.2%.
The Same-Store Average for the latest week was 4.2%, and the same-store
month-to-month change versus September rose to 0.7% from 0.6%.
Also Posted:
Mike Niemira, Weekly Chainstore Sales Snapshot
lp-llc.com
James O'Sullivan, Vice President, JP Morgan (Nov. 3)
lp-llc.com
Robert Craven, President, FIMG (Nov. 3)
lp-llc.com
FRB St. Louis - "Critiqueing the Consumer Price Index" Excerpt
lp-llc.com
Gary |
