Retail Sales Rise 3.6% in Week Ended March 17: Redbook

NEW YORK – Retail sales climbed 3.6% in the week ended March 17, after a 3.3% increase in the prior week, according to the Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index, released Tuesday.

Month-to-date, March sales grew 3.3% from Last March, which was in line with expectations. March sales were 0.4% better than February sales, also meeting expectations.

“A number of retailers reported a pickup in business over the week due to more favorable weather throughout most of the country as well as the celebration of St. Patrick's Day; sales of spring apparel and lawn and garden supplies did well,” according to the report. “There was a particularly good spurt in demand for women's apparel, identified by retailers at the upper and lower ends of the price spectrum. With Easter falling earlier this year, sales were also helped by favorable year-over-year comparisons.”

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM BOND BUYER