Michael Niemira
Michael Niemira
continue despite energy impressive remain sales trends worries
Despite all the worries on the energy front, sales trends continue to be impressive and remain strong.
consumer filter healthy oil prices question react relatively rest sales shows
It shows a relatively healthy sales picture. The question is how will the consumer react when oil prices filter through the rest of the economy.
black caused days friday industry longer numbers people robust sales shopping slightly soft wait weaker weekend year
Additionally, there are two more shopping days this year than last, which may have caused soft Black Friday weekend sales as people wait longer to shop. Nevertheless, after Friday's robust performance, these numbers are slightly weaker than industry analysts would have expected.
goods industry initially pick problem retailers sales selling spread start
I think initially the industry will try to keep the discounts more narrowly focused. The problem is, if sales don't pick up, retailers will start to spread out discounts to those goods not selling as well.
black built deep leading momentum offering reason retailers sales
Part of the reason was that retailers built sales momentum by offering deep discounts leading up to Black Friday,
although categories consumers december furniture held home last looking month november power purchasing retail sales seems shifted
Looking at November and December together, it seems that retail sales held up pretty well during the holidays, although last month consumers shifted their purchasing power to other categories such as furniture and home goods.
good inventory november pressure sales takes
If November sales are good and inventory is under control, that takes some of the sales pressure off in December.
driven holiday largely promotions provide retailers season start strength strong
The strength was largely driven by promotions and did not provide as strong of a start to the holiday season as some retailers would have liked.
clearly concerns consumer dispel economic gas goes growth impact increases performance positive price results says strong surprised
The strong May performance goes a long way to dispel concerns about the impact of gas price increases on consumer spending, ... I am surprised that the positive results were so widespread. It says 'Gee, the economic growth is clearly countering some of these other drags.'
open season
Is it enough to say this season could be more than OK? That's still an open question.
consumers helped holiday late lift
Procrastinating consumers and a late Hanukkah (December 25) helped to lift the holiday season's performance.
consumers headed holiday promotions provided retailers season selling
As the 'traditional' holiday selling season got underway on Friday, consumers headed to those retailers who provided promotions and discounts.
april economy employment fear number performance starting strong together
This number together with the strong April employment performance assuages the fear that the economy was starting to decline.
consumer continue credit hang major passive spend tends unless
Basically, the consumer will hang in there. Unless there's some kind of a major problem, the consumer tends to be more passive and will continue to spend if credit is available.