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2008 Economic Calendar |
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Resource Center » U.S. & Intl Recaps | Release Dates | Why Investors Care | Today's Calendar
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Monthly sales volumes from individual department, chain, discount, and apparel stores are usually reported on the first Thursday of each month. Chain store sales correspond with roughly 10 percent of retail sales. Chain store sales are an indicator of retail sales and consumer spending trends. Why Investors Care
Highlights
Chain-store sales in April proved wild, and for the most part wildly strong on an easy year-to-year comparison that did not include Easter and also helped by unusually warm weather that drove up sales of seasonal goods. Apparel was the biggest winner with many chains easily posting double-digit same-store gains. Teenwear stores got a double bonus from sunshine at spring break. Most discounters also did well, making up for weak results in March.
But there definitely were have nots, including several big department store chains including JC Penney which posted a same-store increase of only 2.6%. Many restaurants saw sales decline due to fewer operating days surrounding Easter.
Results also have to be taken together with March, but here too sales appear nothing less than strong. Vehicle sales did prove soft in April, making for what promises to be an interesting retail sales report from the Commerce Department next Thursday.
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