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 December 4:
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 3.8% in the first
week of December following a 4.9% gain the prior week. Month-to-date,
December is up 3.8% compared to December of last year (relative to a
targeted 3.2% gain). Month-over-month showed a 0.6% gain compared to
November (relative to a flat target). December is a five week month on
the retail calendar ending on January 1st of 2011.
Retailers said average transaction tickets were generally ahead of
last year. With Hanukkah having begun on Wednesday, retailers saw
increases in both traffic and sales during the week. If December follows
a typical pattern, as expected, sales are likely to slow down in the
next week or two before accelerating into both the pre and post
Christmas rush. Most retailers are following NRF 4-5-4 calendar
guidelines and will have one additional Christmas shopping day this
December versus last year, which is expected to have an appreciably
positive impact. Meanwhile, other retailers, mainly from the midwest and
northeast regions, also noted that sales were hurt by heavy snowstorms
which started on Thursday. Winter storms kept shoppers at home to shop
on-line.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MAUDS$]
