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 3:
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 3.2% in the first
week of December. Month-to-date, December was up 3.2% compared to
December of last year (relative to a target of a 3.6% gain).
Month-over-month showed a 2.6% drop compared to November (relative to a
target of a 2.3% drop). December is a five-week month on the retail
calendar, ending on December 31st.
Retailers described the week as a lull that began the weekend after
a hectic (for some) post-Thanksgiving surge. Retailers noticed, however,
that the pause was typical of the first week of December and would
likely be followed by an equally predicable steady build-up as we get
closer to the Christmas holiday. This shopping pattern has intensified
as customers have learned to shop at the last minute to exploit merchant
markdowns. Meanwhile, winter seasonal business continues to be primarily
weather driven, and therefore is somewhat unpredictable. December
contains one additional pre-Christmas shopping day compared to last
December while Hanukkah falls later this year than last year. Both are
expected to have an appreciably positive impact for the month.
** Market News International Washington Bureau (202) 371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MAUDS$]
