Retailers suffered from generally poor weather and from tough comps with last year when rebate checks were received. They also suffer from the continuing poor economic environment.
Sales patterns are not moving: the discounters group continues to show positive trends, mass department stores sales are down 10-15% and high end retailers suffer the brunt of the recession showing no signs of improvements.
Noteworthy:
- Saks’SSS benefitted from the shift of a designer sale event into June this year from May last year.
- Target and Costco continue to struggle compared with their peers.
- Wal-Mart no longer discloses monthly sales.
