Same-stores sales off to a good start

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 4/10/2012 11:29:51 AM

New York - Retail comps rose 4.1% in the first week of April, according to The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index.

Month-to-date, April was up 4.1% compared to April of last year. For the month, Redbook expects April comps to rise 3.5%. Month-over-month showed a 0.8% gain compared to March, relative to a target of a 0.1% gain.

As retailers enter the final month of the first quarter, results of the first week were running better than expected, noted Redbook analyst Catlin Levis.

"Last minute Easter-related purchases drove demand for candies, toys and boys and girls apparel," she continued. "Retailers benefited from year-over-year comparisons as an earlier Easter created more sales volume in the week. Warm weather helped full-priced seasonal apparel business, especially women's apparel and footwear. Basic food and consumables as well as garden supplies also did well."