By Mark Pender
NEW YORK (MNI) – MNI’s U.S. retail trade index slipped slightly in
the April 16 period to 59.8, above 50 to indicate year-on-year growth
but below trend to indicate slowing growth, according to the results of
Market News International’s weekly survey released Monday.
Rising gas and food prices are increasing negatives and averages
are slowing, but the sample is sticking with guidance for steady rates
of growth through April and May.
This is an important week for retailers heading into Good Friday
and total year-on-year sales of +4.5% and same-stores sales of +2.6%
both have to come up about a point before month-to-month gains are
indicated.
Income for the sample shifted back down to a very modest +5%,
making last week’s +11% reading look like an outlier. Sample size in the
period is 133 chains making up 99,600 separate retail locations.
Editor’s Note: MNI compiles its retail trade index based on a
weekly sample of company news and data.
** Market News International New York Newsroom: 212-669-6430 **
[TOPICS: MDURE$,MT$$$$,M$U$$$,M$UEQ$,MAUDS$]
