By Mark Pender
NEW YORK (MNI) – MNI’s U.S. retail trade index slipped 2.8 points
in the Oct. 22 period to 58.5, still well over 50 to indicate solid
growth in year-on-year business conditions, according to the results of
Market News International’s weekly survey released Monday.
Total sales growth for the sample is a year-on-year +5.0% which is
at the low end of recent trend. Same-store sales, at +2.9%, are also at
the low end of trend.
Increasing caution is the theme of the sample which for now sees
these current sales rates extending through the holidays.
Despite the slowing, MNI’s data, after adjustment, offer an early
indication of strength, a 0.5% headline gain for the October retail
sales report.
Income for the sample remains moderate at a year-on-year +6%.
Sample size in the period is 147 chains making up 155,900 separate
retail locations.
Editor’s Note: MNI compiles its retail trade index based on a
weekly sample of company news and data.
** Market News International New York Newsroom: 212-669-6430 **
[TOPICS: MDURE$,MT$$$$,M$U$$$,M$UEQ$,MAUDS$]