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Retail

Retail Sales on Track for Lower Growth

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By Paul Ausick Updated Published
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After three consecutive years of 4%+ same-store sales growth in the month of February, the outlook for the month in 2013 calls for growth of 2.7%, primarily on a forecast of weaker sales at apparel and teen specialty retail stores. According to research firm Retail Metrics, projected weakness at both J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) and Sears Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD) have led to projected decline in same-store sales of 0.1% at department stores.

The largest gains are forecast at discount stores such as Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG), Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST), PriceSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT) and Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO).

The research firm attributes the lower comparable store sales to delays in getting refunds to taxpayers, the impact of higher payroll taxes on income, higher gasoline prices in February, and cooler weather which delayed the start of sales of spring clothing.

Retail same-store sales figures are due to be released later this week.

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About the Author Paul Ausick →

Paul Ausick has been writing for a673b.bigscoots-temp.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.

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