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 Jan. 8:
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 2.8% in the first
week of January. Month-to-date, January is up 2.8% compared to January
of last year (relative to a revised target of a 2.6% gain).
Month-over-month showed a 0.5% drop compared to December (relative to a
target of a 0.7% drop). January is a four-week month on the retail
calendar ending on January 29th.
Consumers continue to redeem gift cards in the post-Christmas
season. Cold weather across the country drove consumers into stores for
cold weather clothing. Outerwear and other seasonal clothing ranked high
on sales leader lists. Retailers at department stores said consumers
were motivated by prices as January clearance sales got under way. Some
discounters reported that consumption had reverted to more normal
patterns, with a focus on basic commodities and food. Clearance is the
key theme in January, with most retailers planning to bring in new
Valentine’s Day and spring merchandise from about the middle of the
month.
Note: In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. day, we will release
our scheduled January 18th report on Wednesday, January 19th at the
usual 8:40 am EST release time.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MAUDS$]
