Michael Niemira
Michael Niemira
demand drove easter finally items kinder mother nature past turned
As Mother Nature turned kinder this past week, demand for Easter merchandise and Spring-related items finally drove sales.
capital focus less meaningful ought pick spending worry
I think there's less worry on the consumer, and our focus ought to be more: 'Does business, capital spending pick up?'... That's much more meaningful going forward.
energy needed retailers
Retailers needed to be promotional because of the energy story. We didn't really see any strengthening this season, but we didn't really see any weakening either.
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.'
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.
open season
Is it enough to say this season could be more than OK? That's still an open question.
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.
consumer relatively remained robust spending
Consumer spending has remained relatively robust into 2006.
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.
continue department easier hear retailers tone
I think you have to read between the lines. In September, retailers say things are on- to above-plan, that's reassuring, even with easier comparisons for the industry. The tone will be important, particularly with some of the department stores. If you continue to hear below-plan sales, that would be worrisome.
certainly completed holiday households percent season shopping
With only 26 percent of households having completed their holiday shopping . . . this holiday season will certainly come down to the wire.
exactly report since talking
What this report said is exactly what I've been talking about since December.
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.
brought favorable holiday hurt impact isolated last later memorial people shift stores weather weekend year
We thought the shift in the Memorial Day weekend this year to about a week later than last year could hurt holiday sales. That was only an isolated case. I think favorable weather probably had more of an impact that brought people out to stores to shop.