Comps up but lower than expected last week

HTT Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/12/2013 12:14:37 PM

New York - Same-store sales rose 2.4% in the first week of February but were below plan, according to The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index.

Comps in the discount channel rose 3.4% for the week ended Feb. 9 and inched up 0.5% in the department store sector.

Redbook analyst Catlin Levis said Super Bowl Sunday and the winter storms in the Northeast distracted consumers and slowed store traffic and sales during the week.

"Meanwhile, retailers continued to clear pockets of marked down winter goods, although these no longer represented a significant portion of business," she continued. "

With Valentine's Day falling on the 2nd week this year versus the 3rd week last year, sales are expected to pick up the subsequent fiscal week, she said.