In October, Signs of Life at Retailers

[TomCADem]

Source: NY Times

October was far and away the best month American retailers have had since consumers put the brakes on spending last autumn. Major categories had robust sales growth for the first time in more than a year, new figures show.

On Thursday, when individual chains report their October sales, the industry is expected to post its strongest sales figures yet in this recession. Contrary to predictions made only a few weeks ago, the nation’s stores could be poised for a merrier Christmas this year than last.

To be sure, the enthusiasm of industry professionals is tempered. A major reason the latest numbers look so good is that they are being compared with figures from October 2008, the first full month of a brutal nationwide spending freeze.

“Things are better than they were a year ago,” said Michael McNamara, vice president for research and analysis at SpendingPulse, an information service by MasterCard Advisors. “But we’re still below where we were two years ago.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/business/economy/04shop.html

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I am sure Limbaugh and company will dismiss such news as evidence of liberal media bias.

[Pirate Smile]

1. It was noticeable at the mall and other stores.