Same store sales just shy of projection

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/21/2006 1:22:00 PM

New York -- Stunted by a late Easter that pushes holiday sales into April this year, same-store retail sales slowed somewhat during the third week of March, rising by 2.5% and coming in beneath the 2.7% increase recorded the prior week, the Johnson Redbook Index reported.

Sales for the three weeks month-to-date fell slightly short of the mark, rising by 2.5%, just missing a targeted gain of 2.6%.

Both discounters and department stores reported softer sales during the week. Department store sales rose by 1.9% after moving up by 2.0% the week before. Discounter sales rose by 2.9%, off slightly from a 3.1% increase the preceding week.