WASHINGTON (MNI) – The following is the text of the weekly retail
sales report released by Johnson Redbook Wednesday, for the
month-to-date through the week-ended March 24:
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 3.8% in the fourth
week of March following a 3.6% gain the prior week. Month-to-date, March
was up 3.4% compared to March of last year (relative to a target of a
3.3% gain). Month-over-month showed a 0.5% gain compared to February
(relative to a target of 0.4% gain). March is a five-week month on the
retail calendar ending on March 31st.
Sales in the fourth week of March were driven by a combination of
seasonal demand for spring merchandise and interest in Easter related
merchandise. Spring officially began on March 20th; students on spring
break during this period also helped to give sales and traffic an extra
boost. Spring business, which focused on seasonal apparel and outdoor
categories, was aided by warm weather in many parts of the country.
Easter buying continued to show its traditional territorial bias, and
was more intense in the southern states.
** MNI Washington Bureau (202) 371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MAUDS$]
