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 September 22:
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 2.0% in the fourth
week of September following a 2.4% gain in the prior week.
Month-to-date, September was up 2.4% compared to September of last year
(relative to a target of a 2.2% gain). Month-over-month showed a 1.7%
gain (relative to a target of a 1.5% gain). September is a five-week
month on the retail calendar ending on September 29th.
Sales growth declined slightly from the previous week. Some stores
reported modest business in Halloween merchandise. Halloween falls on
October 31st, but retailers say shopping for the event begins earlier
and tends to generate more sales volume each year. Among merchandise
categories, consumables and other basic groups generally led business at
discounters, suggesting sales driven by every day domestic demand in the
absence of any clear seasonal or other trends. With back-to-school now
largely completed, most stores reported that business was satisfactory
with clean sell-through. More details will become available when
retailers disclose monthly sales data next week.
** MNI Washington Bureau (202) 371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MAUDS$]
