WASHINGTON (MNI) – The following is the text of the weekly retail
sales report released by Johnson Redbook Tuesday, for the month-to-date
through the week-ended Apr. 30:
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 5.5% in the fourth
and final week of April following a 5.3% gain the prior week.
Month-to-date, April was up 5.1% compared to April of last year
(relative to a target of a 6.1% gain). Month-over-month showed a 1.3%
gain compared to March (relative to a targeted gain of 2.3%).
Severe storms and tornadoes swept through the southeast, seriously
disrupting many businesses, with most destruction occurring in Alabama.
Meanwhile, as we are approaching Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8th, some
retailers are claiming to experience a pickup in sales over the weekend
in merchandise such as seasonal apparel, jewelry and accessories.
Looking ahead, May is a four-week month on the retail calendar ending on
Saturday, May 28th. The month contains one major shopping event,
Mother’s Day. Our initial target for May is for a year-over-year same
store sales gain of 4.7%, which generates a month-to-month comparison of
a 2.1% decline. This target will be finalized in next week’s report.
Retailers officially report April sales on Thursday, May 5th, and we
plan as usual to release our Johnson Redbook Same-store Sales Index that
morning.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MAUDS$]
