Week 3 Sales: a return to normalcy
In terms of optics, the first two weeks of April were miserable. While 2018 sales totals were in line with average 2018 weekly earnings, the 2017 Easter holiday put the current year at a huge disadvantage. Now that we’re past the point where Easter occurred in both 2017 and 2018, sales have returned to normal.
Independent grocers reported that their same store sales were up 4.31 percent in the third week of April compared to the same period in 2017. Customer counts were up 1.51 percent.
Tomorrow the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the unemployment report for April. Initial estimates are putting job growth at a steady but solid pace. The report will be released tomorrow at 8:30 AM EDT.