US DATA: wk 21-Jul Redbook sales: “Sales were below plan in the
third week. Some merchants said it was too hot to shop and that periodic
heat waves were keeping people away from stores; others reported
sluggish business and unmotivated consumers suggesting little more than
the usual mid-July doldrums. In the most recent period, retailers
continued to focus on clearing summer goods and bringing in
back-to-school merchandise. Core consumer goods such as food and
household supplies continued to drive sales. Retailers are hoping that
by mid-August the upcoming states tax holidays and back-to-school demand
will motivate consumers and inject some life into shopping.”
–
Year-over-year: Week (w/e 07/21/12 vs year-ago) 1.3%
Year-over-year: Month (July 2012 vs July 2011) 1.7%
Month-over-month: (July 2012 vs June 2012) -1.3%