Retail Performance Rises in February
After watching numbers decline for four straight months, retailers
saw gains in customer traffic and sales in February. The Retail
Sector Performance Index rose 5.3 points to 55.6, according
to a monthly survey by the National Retail Federation (Washington).
Based on a scale of 0 to 100, with 50 equaling normal, the
RSPI measures retail executives’ evaluations of monthly
sales, customer traffic, average transaction per customer,
employment, inventories and a six-month-ahead sales outlook
expectation.
Retail executives said that sales and traffic bounced back
significantly in February. The Current Demand Index increased
13.8 points to 59.2. The Pricing Index rose 15 points to 40.
Operations, which include inventory levels and employment,
remained steady at 52.5.
“February was a successful month for clearance merchandise,
and many retailers are relieved to have winter gear out of
their stores,” said Tracy Mullin, NRF president and
chief executive officer. “Retailers appear pleased with
their pricing strategies for spring and are encouraged that
consumers are heading to the stores in larger numbers.”
The Demand Outlook, a six-month outlook for sales, rose to
55—slightly better than January but significantly lower
than the 68.8 reading in February 2004. [May 2005 PET AGE]
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