2008 U.S. Economic Events & Analysis
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Chain Store Sales
Definition
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 stores reported the best sales since January, benefiting from April's warm weather and this year's Easter shift which added an extra shopping day for many retailers. The gain contrasts with the dismal light truck sales posted last week, suggesting that consumers substituted spending on vehicles for spending elsewhere. Wal-Mart posted its best sales since November as did many other chains. Until now, November was the last good month for the sector. Those chains posting data on gas showed strong sales indicating, along with the 10 percent month-to-month jump in gas prices, that the gasoline station component will show a second straight month-to-month jump in Tuesday's retail sales report from the Commerce Department. Today's chain store results point to a solid month-to-month increase for total retail sales in what would give the economic outlook a big lift.

2008 Release Schedule
Released On: 1/10 2/7 3/6 4/10 5/8 6/5 7/10 8/7 9/4 10/8 11/6 12/4
Released For: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov


 
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