By Mark Pender
NEW YORK (MNI) – MNI’s U.S. retail trade indicator rose 2.2 points
in the March 24 period to 67.0, far over breakeven 50 to indicate strong
growth in year-on-year business activity, according to the results of
Market News International’s weekly survey released Monday.
Total sales growth slowed five tenths in the period to a still very
strong +5.5% year-on-year with same-store sales growth unchanged at
+4.0%.
These sales rates, along with the index, are together the strongest
since July and are among the very strongest of the recovery.
But all this year-on-year strength is not yet, based on MNI’s
sample, translating to month-on-month strength given the very tough
comparison against February.
When adjusted, MNI’s data point to no change for the March retail
sales headline from the government.
Income growth for MNI’s sample is holding to trend at +6.0%
year-on-year. Sample size in the period is 179 chains for a total of
159,600 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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