WASHINGTON (MNI) – The following is the text of the weekly retail
sales report released by Johnson Redbook Tuesday, for the month-to-date
through the week-ended April 21:
The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 2.7% in the third
week of April following a 3.0% gain the prior week. Month-to-date, April
was up 3.3% compared to April of last year (relative to a target of a
3.5% gain). Month-over-month showed a 0.1% drop compared to March
(relative to a target of a 0.1% gain). April is a four-week month on the
retail calendar, ending on April 28th.
Weather conditions were varied across the country, sunny and warm
in some regions but wet and stormy in others. Stores relying on spring
driven apparel sales reported mixed results for the week, depending on
their regional weighting, as cooler temperatures held back seasonal
business. Sales performance continued its softer trend, which has been
apparent since the second week of the month, when our retailer sample
reported slower performance reflecting the negative side of the Easter
shift.
** MNI Washington Bureau (202) 371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MAUDS$]