By Mark Pender
NEW YORK (MNI) – MNI’s U.S. retail trade index added another two
points in the Dec. 11 period to 66.2, a new high in nearly six years of
data, according to the results of Market News International’s weekly
survey.
Total sales rose four tenths in the period to an on-year +5.4%
while same-store sales rose three tenths to +4.3%. These levels are near
records.
MNI’s indications point to a +0.7% print for November retail sales,
data to be released Tuesday. Ex-auto, indications point to +0.8%.
Despite all the strength, the ex-auto ex-gas component looks to
show no change in November though guidance and trends do point to a gain
for December.
Income guidance is lagging sales guidance, a mismatch that points
to markdowns. Income is an on-year +6% with one third of the sample
still posting significant declines.
MNI’s sample in the latest period numbers 196 chains representing
153,000 individual 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$]
