Retail Sales Up in February

Same-store sales increased 4.4 percent in February, according to Kantar Retail, declining from the 4.9 percent gain in January, but up over the 3.9 percent increase reported in February 2010. According to Kantar Retail, February sales held up despit

April 6, 2018

According to Kantar Retail, February sales held up despite the impact of winter storms and rising fuel prices that appeared to affect shoppers’ spending plans. 

“The results also held up despite slightly tougher year-ago comparisons, but those comparisons are likely to take a toll in the coming months—even factoring out the Easter shift from March to late April this year,” says Frank Badillo, senior economist. “Higher fuel prices will have an ongoing impact on shoppers, particularly lower-income shoppers, but that impact will be offset somewhat as long as households see a continuing pickup in income and job gains in the months ahead.” 

Department store retailer Saks reported the largest increase of 15.3 percent, according to Kantar Retail, followed by Zumiez (12.8 percent), Neiman-Marcus (12.7 percent) and Limited (12 percent). 

Stage Stores reported the biggest decline in same-store February sales of -7.2 percent. 

For a full list of the retailers reporting:

http://www.retailforward.com/retailintel/samestr_sales.pdf

The retail sales report no longer includes Aeropostale, Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle, which all stopped reporting last month. Walmart stopped reporting monthly results in April 2009.

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