Same-store sales up across the board

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/14/2005 11:36:00 AM

NEW YORK -- Same-store retail sales continued to best expectations during June, as results for the second week rose 3.7 percent over year-before levels.

The increase easily beat a monthly target of 3.2 percent set by the Johnson Redbook Index, and built on a 3.5 percent gain achieved in the first week of the month.“Seasonal business was cited as a major cause of strength (among retailers), directly and indirectly, since the increase in traffic helped to drive sales in other merchandise categories,” stated Johnson Redbook Analyst Catlin Levis. “Sales of hard and soft merchandise were also improved, with the emphasis varying depending on format and store.”Breaking retailers out by segment, department stores scored a 3 percent increase for the week, narrowly exceeding a 2.9 percent goal; while discounters increased sales 4.2 percent, ahead of a 3.9 percent target.