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
Chain store sales were soft but still better than the disappointment of December. On average, total sales are up not quite 4 percent in January, a bit above December's non-auto, non-gasoline category of the Commerce Department's retail trade report. Weather does not appear to have played a major role in the results. Chains are very cautious on the outlook, with many seeing income and sales trending gradually lower through the year. Layoffs have hit the sector heavily in the last two weeks but there were no new announcements in today's news run. Retail sales will be released on Wednesday.
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