article-11209.xml

9/10/2007

SHOPPING OUTLOOK

The week prior to Columbus Day (Sept.30 to Oct.6) will bring the best weekly year-over-year sales gains of the month for fall seasonal items. With over 80% of the nation trending colder than last year, sales of jeans and outerwear will be strong. Dry and cool weather across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states is favorable for store traffic at most retail outlets. Increased rainfall across the center of the nation from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes will dampen sales a bit at strip centers and stand-alone retailers, but will be a benefit to department stores and shopping malls.

California will be the one region of the nation to be much warmer than last year. This week will be a good opportunity for retailers in the West to clear out any remaining warm season merchandise.

A late season hurricane is not out of the question along the Gulf Coast. Storm-related merchandise such as batteries, generators, plastic sheeting and bottled water should already be in place by this time.

FORECAST BY RETAIL MARKETText and chart by Weather Trends International

City		AVERAGE (30 YEARS)	LAST YEAR (ACTUAL)	THIS YEAR (FORECAST)
Boston	TEMP	57°	59°	55°
	PRECIP	0.84”	0.50”	0.76”
New York	TEMP	60°	65°	60°
	PRECIP	0.74”	0.84”	0.55”
Atlanta	TEMP	66°	71°	63°
	PRECIP	0.71”	0.00”	0.53”
Orlando	TEMP	77°	78°	78°
	PRECIP	0.73”	1.64”	0.55”
Dallas	TEMP	70°	80°	68°
	PRECIP	0.94”	0.00”	1.18”
Chicago	TEMP	56°	60°	53°
	PRECIP	0.60”	1.41”	0.45”
Minneapolis	TEMP	52°	62°	50°
	PRECIP	0.49”	0.02”	0.51”
Denver	TEMP	54°	64°	54°
	PRECIP	0.17”	0.00”	0.26”
Phoenix	TEMP	78°	86°	80°
	PRECIP	0.21”	0.09”	0.26”
Los Angeles	TEMP	68°	66°	71°
	PRECIP	0.06”	0.00”	0.00”
San Francisco	TEMP	62°	59°	68°
	PRECIP	0.14”	0.33”	0.10”
Seattle	TEMP	55°	56°	62°
	PRECIP	0.54”	0.02”	0.41”

Related Topics