Thanksgiving Weekend Shopping, By The Numbers

November, 2014 The biggest shopping weekend of the year is only days away and retailers are gearing up for another Thanksgiving weekend of holiday shopping and promotions. Since the recession, retailers competing for shopping dollars and market share have had to rethink tried-and-true holiday marketing strategies.  Good prices, great value, unique product assortment and convenience… Read more »

Nordstrom Rolls On, Loyalty Expands

November 14, 2014 New stores, 3.9% same store sales growth and increased loyalty propelled Nordstrom to record third quarter sales. The company’s total sales increased 8.9% to $3 billion thanks to the addition of new stores and a 3.9% same store sales increase that was driven by online growth.  Profits increased 3.6% to $142 million… Read more »

October Retail Sales Rebound After Shadows Of Doubt

November 14, 2014 October’s retail sales report helps strengthen the National Retail Federation’s holiday expectations for sales growth of 4.1 percent, and offers an optimistic look ahead for the busiest consumer spending time of the year.  According to NRF, October retail sales, excluding autos, gas and restaurants, grew a healthy 0.7 percent month-to-month seasonally adjusted… Read more »

Builder Confidence Rises Four Points In November

November 18, 2014 Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes rose four points to a level of 58 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. “Growing confidence among consumers is what’s fueling this optimism among builders,” said NAHB Chairman Kevin Kelly, a home builder and… Read more »

Home Improvement Surging Ahead Of Holidays

November 19, 2014 Lowe’s said its third quarter same store sales spiked 5.1% a day after Home Depot reported an even stronger increase. Total company sales increased 5.6% to $13.7 billion driven by increased productivity of existing stores as evidenced by a 5.1% comp increase.  Home Depot said its third quarter same store sales increased… Read more »

Housing Affordability Slightly Lower In Third Quarter

November 13, 2014 Firming home prices in markets across the country contributed to a slight dip in nationwide housing affordability in the third quarter of 2014, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), released today. In all, 61.8 percent of new and existing homes sold between the beginning of… Read more »