Sales strong as Easter passes

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 4/15/2004 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK — Building on strong March results, same-store retail sales improved by 5.4 percent during the first week of April, but started to lose their full head of steam closing in on the Easter holiday, the Johnson Redbook Index reported.

With Easter holiday shopping drawing to a close, department stores reported a robust 4 percent growth in comps, just shy of a target of 4.1 percent, but off their remarkably strong growth of 9.5 percent the prior week. Discounters grew their same-store sales by 6.2 percent, slightly beneath the target of 6.3 percent growth.

"Following an above-plan March as retailers enter the final month of the first quarter, results of the first week were in-line with plan," said Redbook Analyst Catlin Levis.