Comps soften as BTS winds down

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/18/2012 11:50:08 AM

New York - Same-store sales rose 2.4% in the third week of September following a 2.7% gain in the prior week, according to The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up.

For the week ended Sept. 15, comps in the discount channel were up 3.2% while comps in the department store segment bumped up 0.8%.

Month-to-date, September was up 2.5% compared to September of last year, relative to a target of a 2.2% gain. Month-over-month showed a 1.8% gain, relative to a target of a 1.5% gain.

Sales slipped during the week as back-to-school merges into transitional fall business, noted Redbook analyst Catlin Levis.

"Back-to-school categories are now winding down and some clothing categories were active, but apparel in general did not perform well, hurting the department stores with their narrower merchandise bases," she continued. "Discount stores sales were supported by consumer basics such as food and household supplies. Several retailers suggested the forecasted drop in temperature this week may provide the impetus they seek."