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 May 21:
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 3.4% in the third
week of May following a 4.0% gain in the prior week. Month-to-date, May
was up 4.0% compared to May of last year (relative to a target of a 3.9%
gain). Month-over-month showed a 2.6% drop compared to April (relative
to a targeted drop of 2.8%). May is a four-week month on the retail
calendar ending on May 28th.
The persistence of unseasonably cool and rainy weather over the
past week in many parts of the country suppressed volume in seasonal
business of both hard-lines and soft-lines including outdoor goods, home
improvement, spring goods and apparel. Discount stores, and to a larger
extent department stores, have been particularly affected, since this
type of merchandise represents a larger percentage of their business.
Seasonal merchandise, however, is reported to be selling well where
temperatures are warm.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MAUDS$]
