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NRF: Late Black Friday darkens November sales

December 12, 2008

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November retail sales decreased 9 percent unadjusted over last year and dropped 1.8 percent seasonally adjusted from October.

Washington--Though shoppers came out in full force on Black Friday weekend, the National Retail Federation (NRF) says Thanksgiving's later date this year is one factor that contributed to a drop in retail sales in November.

Black Friday, a major shopping day that falls the day after Thanksgiving, occurred on Nov. 27 this year, as compared with Nov. 22 last year.

November retail sales released on Dec. 12 by the U.S. Commerce Department show total retail sales (including non-general-merchandise such as automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) decreased 9 percent unadjusted over last year and dropped 1.8 percent seasonally adjusted from October.

Retail industry sales for November excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants increased 0.6 percent seasonally adjusted from October and decreased 2 percent unadjusted year-over-year, the NRF says.

"Thanksgiving came too late in the month for retailers to see strong November sales," NRF Chief Economist Rosalind Wells said in a media release. "With five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, the holiday season will come down to December's performance."

The NRF defines the holiday season as retail industry sales in November and December, and the federation is forecasting meager sales growth of 2.2 percent.

For November, sales were down across most retail categories, but electronics and appliance store sales increased 2.8 percent seasonally adjusted from October, and clothing and clothing accessories store sales increased 0.8 percent from the previous month. Year-over-year, though, sales in the electronics category actually decreased 5.4 percent unadjusted, while sales in the clothing category fell 7.4 percent compared with last November.

Showing increases in both the year-over-year sales and seasonally adjusted month-to-month sales were health and personal care stores and general-merchandise stores, which include discounters. Health and personal-care store sales increased 1 percent from October and 2.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year. General-merchandise stores were up 1.2 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and rose 1.3 percent from last year.
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