By Mark Pender
NEW YORK (MNI) – MNI’s U.S. retail trade index slipped nearly one
point in the Jan. 15 period to 63.5, indicating a strong year-on-year
rate of growth that however is little changed from December, according
to the results of Market News International’s weekly survey released
Tuesday.
Total sales edged two tenths higher for a second week to a
year-on-year +5.4%, right at the four-week average of +5.3%.
But same-store sales, down for the fourth week in a row, are going
in the opposite direction, which is very unusual for MNI’s sample.
Same-store sales are down one percentage point to +2.3% for the
weakest reading in three months. The four-week average fell six tenths
to +3.3%.
With total sales pointing one way and same-store sales pointing the
other, unchanged is the initial call for January’s retail sales print.
Income for the sample is soft at an on-year 5%. The period’s sample
size is 167 chains representing 128,700 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 **
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