Monthly sales volumes from individual department, chain, discount, and apparel stores are usually reported on the first Thursday of each month. Chain store sales correspond with roughly 10 percent of retail sales. Chain store sales are an indicator of retail sales and consumer spending trends. Why Investors Care
Highlights
Wal-Mart did okay in September but most other chains had a poor month. Unusually warm weather badly hurt sales of seasonal items, especially apparel. The weather also stunted traffic. But Wal-Mart posted a respectable year-on-year total sales gain of about 6.5 percent, though same-store sales were soft at 1.4 percent. Wal-Mart raised estimates following the results, definitely against the morning's trend that saw a wave of cuts. Today's data point to possible trouble for tomorrow's non-auto, non-gasoline components of the Commerce Department's retail trade report. Share prices of retailers were mixed in early reaction to the results.
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