Same-store sales reach target

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 5/11/2004 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK — Helped by good weather across much of the nation and sales of seasonal merchandise, same-store retail sales came in modestly ahead of plan during the first week of May, rising 4.7 percent from year-ago levels, according to the Johnson Redbook Index.

Boosted by the sales of summer merchandise — including electronics and toys — sales bested a target of 4.6 percent growth, said Redbook Analyst Catlin Levis. Measured on a month-over-month basis, sales during the first week of May were 0.7 percent above April numbers, compared with a target of a 0.6 percent increase.

Once again showing signs of bounding back after two years of declines, department stores came in ahead of plan, climbing 2.5 percent and besting a target of 2.3 percent growth. Mass merchants met their plan with a 6.1 percent same-store sales increase.