Comps impacted by Easter shift, weather

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 4/24/2012 11:27:26 AM

New York - Same-store sales rose 2.7% in the third week of April following a 3.0% gain the prior week, according to The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index.

Month-to-date, April was up 3.3% compared to April of last year, relative to a target of a 3.5% gain. Month-over-month showed a 0.1% drop compared to March, relative to a target of a 0.1% gain.

Comps in the discount store channel rose 3.2%. Same-store sales were up 2.7% in the department store sector.

Weather conditions were varied across the country, sunny and warm in some regions but wet and stormy in others, Redbook analyst Catlin Levis said.

"Stores relying on spring-driven apparel sales reported mixed results for the week, depending on their regional weighting, as cooler temperatures held back seasonal business," she continued. "Sales performance continued its softer trend, which has been apparent since the second week of the month, when our retailer sample reported slower performance reflecting the negative side of the Easter shift."