May same-store sales below target

-- Home Textiles Today, 6/2/2009 2:01:00 PM

Fourth week of May year-over-year % change

New York – Same-store sales fell slightly below target in May, the Johnson Redbook reported today.

The Johnson Redbook Index for the month was down 0.1% vs. a target of a 0.2% increase. Both department stores and discounters missed the mark in May. Department store comps declined 7.6% when Redbook had expected a 7.1% decline. Discounters posted a 4.4% gain, just below the 4.6% Redbook had forecast.

In the final week of the month, the Redbook Index increased 0.1% following a 0.5% drop the week before. Department stores improved their week-over-week performance, logging a 7.3% decline after an 8.2% slide a week earlier. Discounter comps were flat compared to the previous week, again gaining 4.1%.

 “Sales were lifted by warm Memorial Day holiday traffic,” said Catlin Levis, Redbook analyst.

Grocery drove much of the business at discount, she said. Department stores saw their strongest same-store sales activity in merchandise related to school graduation, such as women’s wear, men’s wear, footwear and women’s accessories.

 “Our preliminary plan for June is for year-over-year growth of 0.2% leading to a month-over-month change against of May of 0.3%,” said Levis.

The target will be finalized in next week's report. Retail June is a five-week month ending on July 4th. The month contains two shopping events: Father's Day and Independence Day.