By Mark Pender

NEW YORK (MNI) - MNI's U.S. retail trade index rose for the third straight week, up more than two points in the Aug. 28 period to a very strong 61.6 to reflect deeply dispersed year-on-year growth, according to the results of Market News International's weekly survey.

Total sales are at a year-on-year +3.9%, up two tenths in the week for the best reading in nearly three months. Same-store sales at +3.0% are also the best reading in nearly three months.

By Mark Pender

NEW YORK (MNI) - MNI's U.S. retail trade index posted a second straight gain, up eight tenths in the Aug. 21 period to a 59.3 level that indicates tangible year-on-year growth for the sector, according to the results of Market News International's weekly survey released Monday.

Traffic is firm and transaction counts are rising at most chains though promotions are holding back sales rates which are expected to edge slowly lower going into year end.

By Mark Pender

NEW YORK (MNI) - MNI's U.S. retail trade index posted a second straight gain, up eight tenths in the Aug. 21 period to a 59.3 level that indicates tangible year-on-year growth for the sector, according to the results of Market News International's weekly survey released Monday.

Traffic is firm and transaction counts are rising at most chains though promotions are holding back sales rates which are expected to edge slowly lower going into year end.

By Mark Pender

NEW YORK (MNI) - MNI's U.S. retail trade index regained the bulk of the prior week's loss, rising nearly 4-1/2 points to 58.5 in the Aug. 14 period, according to the results of Market News International's weekly survey.

Chains in the week were less downbeat on the second-half outlook, often raising earnings estimates and holding onto sales guidance which is centered on low single-digit same-store gains.

Yet sales are slipping, at +3.2% for total sales, down from the prior week's +3.7%, with same-store sales at +1.4

By Mark Pender

NEW YORK (MNI) - MNI's U.S. retail trade index fell nearly six points to 54.1 in the Aug. 7 period reflecting slowing trends and less optimistic guidance for the second half of the year, according to the results of Market News International's weekly survey released Monday.

Current sales rates, at +3.7% year-on-year for total sales and +2.0% for same-store sales, point to disappointment for Friday's retail sales report from the Commerce Department.

By Mark Pender

NEW YORK (MNI) - MNI's U.S. retail trade index edged lower in the July 31 period to 59.9, a reading well over 50 to indicate solid year-on-year growth yet not enough to indicate month-to-month growth, according to the results of Market News International's weekly survey released Monday.

Sales are at an unadjusted year-on-year +3.0% with same-store sales at an unadjusted +2.0%. When adjusted, MNI's data are pointing to a -0.5% headline for July retail sales in what would be a third month of disappointment.

By Mark Pender

NEW YORK (MNI) - MNI's U.S. retail trade index rose 1.7 points in the July 24 period to 60.3, a solid reading indicating year-on-year growth yet still pointing to a month-to-month decline, according to the results of Market News International's weekly survey.

Readings have been firming yet not enough to outdo July's set of tougher seasonal adjustments. When adjusted, MNI's data are pointing to a -0.5% headline for July retail sales in what would be a third month of disappointment.

By Mark Pender

NEW YORK (MNI) - MNI's U.S. retail trade index fell more than two points in the July 17 period to a 58.6 level that indicates year-on-year growth but points to another month-to-month disappointment, according to the results of Market News International's weekly survey.

Total sales are at +3.2% year-on-year with same-store sales at +2.3%. Results for this sample peaked in April and have been sliding ever since.

When adjusted, the results so far for July point to a -1.0% headline for total retail sales in the next Commerce Department report.