Same-store sales finish February with a bang

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/2/2005 1:31:00 PM

NEW YORK — Helped by unexpectedly strong holiday events and the launch of spring apparel, most notably at department stores, same-store retail sales were exceptionally strong during the fourth and final week of February, jumping 7.6 percent, the Johnson Redbook Index reported.

Getting a double shot of good news from Presidents' Day and Valentine's Day, and getting a further lift from new spring fashions, same-store sales jumped an impressive 8.4 percent at department stores, hugely improving on a modest 1 percent increase the preceding week.

Discounter comps moved up almost as high, rising 7.1 percent, following a strong 4.2 percent increase the week before.