November ends on high note for comps

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 11/29/2011 1:35:24 PM

New York - Same-store sales rose 5.4% in the fourth and final week of November following a 3.7% gain the prior week, according to The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index.

Month-to-date, November was up 3.9% compared to last year's November, relative to a target of a 4.1% gain. Month-over-month showed a 2.2% gain compared to October, relative to a target of a 2.4% gain.

Catlin Levis, Redbook analyst, noted that "most stores were quite pleased with their Black Friday sales." Retailers told Rebook traffic was up smartly, with strong business in women's accessories, toys and electronics such as flat-screen TVs and iPads.

"Some retailers said it was the best Thanksgiving weekend they had seen for some time," she added. "This final burst of strength was sufficient to enable many stores to improve their overall monthly averages, although the lift was relatively slight given the shortness of the time remaining."

Seasonal outerwear business was not as strong as retailers wanted it to be, likely due to relatively mild temperatures in many parts of the country, she said.

Redbook's preliminary projection for December same-store sales is a 3.6% year-over-year gain and a 2.2% decline versus November.