By Mark Pender
NEW YORK (MNI) – MNI’s U.S. retail trade index rose 2.4 points in
the Dec. 31 period to 62.1, well over 50 to indicate strong growth in
year-on-year business conditions, according to the results of Market
News International’s weekly survey released Tuesday.
Total sales are five tenths ahead of the prior period at a
year-on-year +4.5% but, in a partial offset, same-store sales are two
tenths slower at +2.5%.
All indications taken together, MNI’s sample continues to signal a
decline, at -0.2%, for the government’s December retail sales headline.
Year-on-year income for MNI’s sample is a respectable +7% to
indicate only a limited effect from markdowns. Sample size in the period
is 132 chains for a total of 133,900 separate stores.
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 **
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