Redbook: Comps still up but slower in last week of September

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/25/2012 1:51:57 PM

New York -- The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 2.0% in the fourth week of September following a 2.4% gain in the prior week.

Month-to-date, September was up 2.4% compared to September of last year, relative to a target of a 2.2% gain. Month-over-month showed a 1.7% gain, relative to a target of a 1.5% gain.

September is a five-week month on the retail calendar ending on September 29th.

Sales growth declined slightly from the previous week, noted Redbook analyst Catlin Levis.

"Some stores reported modest business in Halloween merchandise," she continued. "Halloween falls on Oct.31, but retailers say shopping for the event begins earlier and tends to generate more sales volume each year."

Among merchandise categories, consumables and other basic groups generally led business at discounters, "suggesting sales [are] driven by every day domestic demand in the absence of any clear seasonal or other trends," Levis added. "With back-to-school now largely completed, most stores reported that business was satisfactory with clean sell-through."

More details will become available when retailers disclose monthly sales data next week.