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 August 18:
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 1.9% in the third
week of August following a 1.8% gain in the prior week. Month-to-date,
August was up 1.9% compared to August of last year (relative to a target
of a 1.7% gain). Month-over-month showed a 0.3% drop (relative to a
target of a 0.5% drop). August is a four-week month on the retail
calendar ending August 25th.
Sales were slightly better than last week. Most retailers indicated
that they were on plan and some said they were tracking the upper end of
their target ranges month to date. The shift in buying patterns favored
back-to-school hard lines such as computers and electronics. Apparel
sales were holding up well in the south and other regions where schools
started earlier. Teens often want to wait to see what the others are
wearing before they go shopping. Back-to-school sales performance will
be easier to assess next month. The positive impact of state tax
holidays was a factor in Maryland and Texas.
** MNI Washington Bureau (202) 371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MAUDS$]
