Study: Warehouse Clubs, Off-Prices Likely Comp Gainers through May

-- Home Textiles Today, 4/12/2010 12:00:00 AM

Columbus, Ohio —

In a recent report, ForecastIQ finds that although consumer spending appears to be picking up in the first three months of 2010, the easy comparisons to last year mean reports “should be met with cautious optimism.”

For the first time in the 18 months, ForecastIQ is predicting the number of retailers either likely or almost certain see growth is higher than those likely to see a decline.

Warehouse clubs – namely, BJ’s and Costco – as well as Ross and TJX Companies continue to be more likely to experience growth in same store sales. Some specialty apparel retailers – including Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, Children’s Place and Wet Seal – are also likely to see an increase.

But the news is less favorable for department stores, including The Bon-Ton Stores, Dillard’s, JCPenney and Stein Mart, which ForecastIQ expects to post a decline through May.

ForecastIQ, an arm of software application provider Prosper Technologies, analyzes data from the BIGresearch’s monthly Consumer Intentions & Actions surveys of consumers’ future spending plans.