Retail Sales Stellar in June

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 7/11/2005 12:00:00 AM

New York — —

New York — Helped by warm weather and, for some, an early start to the back-to-school season, same-store retail sales surged a remarkably strong 6.6 percent during the fifth and final week of June, the Johnson Redbook Index reported.

Both major channels ended the month on a particularly strong note, discounters running up 8.5 percent, and department stores growing their sales 3.7 percent during the week.

For the entire month, same-store sales climbed 4.2 percent, past a target of 3.2 percent growth. Discounter sales grew 5.1 percent, topping a target of 3.7 percent, and department stores rose 3.2 percent, beating a target of 2.4 percent.

“The closing rally was caused in part by sharp increases in temperatures across the country, culminating in record hot weather leading up to the July 4 weekend, as well as sales promotions,” said Redbook Analyst Catlin Levis. “This spurred demand for summer merchandise and also drove consumers into air-conditioned malls and outlets to escape the heat.”

Johnson Redbook Index
Fifth Week of June