WASHINGTON — Retail sales edged up in September but were still shy of what industry analysts were hoping to see heading into the holiday shopping season.
Retail sales edged up in September but were still shy of what industry analysts were hoping to see heading into the holiday shopping season.
The Commerce Department said sales rose 0.1% in September. But when sales of motor vehicles and parts are stripped out, retail sales were down 0.3%.
The department also revised retail sales in August from a 0.2% increase to unchanged.
Seven of 13 major categories showed declines in September, led by a 3.2% drop at service stations as fuel costs declined. Electronics and appliance sales fell 0.2%. Sales at food stores declined 0.3%. The department’s sales data aren’t adjusted for changes in prices. Analysts noted that prices for imported electronics, apparel and other merchandise were less expensive due to a stronger dollar, causing sales volume to look lower despite demand for the goods.
Costco Wholesale Corp. reported net sales of $10.8 billion for the five weeks ended October 4, an increase of 2% from a year earlier. Comparable-store sales at U.S. stores increased 8%, Costco noted. Same-store sales in Canada rose 11%. Comparable-store sales at international stores outside of Canada rose 8%.
Rite Aid Corp. reported that same-store sales increased 1.5% in the four weeks ended September 26. Front-end same-store sales declined 0.1% and pharmacy same-store sales, which included an approximate 234-basis-point negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 2.2%, Rite Aid noted. Prescription count at comparable stores declined 0.7% in September. Total drug store sales rose 1.8% to $2.1 billion.
Fred’s Inc. reported September sales rose 15% to $211.5 million. Comparable-store sales for the month rose 4.2% compared with a 0.2% increase a year earlier.
