Report: Weekly Sales Up in Latest Week

Chicago ShopperTrak RCT Corp.'s National Retail Sales Estimate reported that retail sales for the week ending April 26 rose a steady 5.6% compared to the same period last year as warmer spring weather throughout the country continued to encourage retail spending.

On a week-over-week comparison, the sales pace showed a more seasonal shopping pattern as sales for the week ending April 26 compared to the previous week ending April 19 slipped 1.7%.

“The week-over-week sales performance showed the annual, expected lull retailers typically see in the weeks immediately preceding Mother’s Day weekend,” said Bill Martin, co-founder of ShopperTrak. “However, the strong year-over-year performance clearly shows consumers are still willing to spend despite various economic pressures, as 14 out of 17 weeks in 2008 have posted a year-over-year retail spending increase.”

Additionally, ShopperTrak reported that through April 26, retail sales for the month of April vs. last year are up 2.1%.