Most Mass Retailers Continued Record Sales Gains In March.

Most mass retailers posted gains in comparable store sales for March, continuing their record of increases this year even as economic concerns and cold weather dampened consumers’ shopping spirit. Overall, chain stores’ same-store sales rose 1.7 percent in March, with stronger gains in the discount, drug and wholesale sectors.

The first week of April produced optimistic retail signals: sales and customer traffic were up over the last week of March. “We remain optimistic that our economy is fundamentally strong and that mass retailing continues to be a powerful engine for the economy,” said IMRA President Robert J. Verdisco. “We expect to see continued gains in mass retail performance as more consumers emerge from their winter concerns and find the good value, selection and convenience that mass retail stores offer.”

Here are examples of mass retailers reporting same-store gains for March: Fred’s, Inc., 7.4 percent; Dollar General Corporation, 6.5 percent; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 3.3 percent; ShopKo Stores, Inc., 3.1 percent; Target Stores, Inc., 3.4 percent; Family Dollar, 1 percent; and Kmart Corporation, 1 percent.

In late March, IMRA promoted April 1 as Pump Up the Economy Day. “We thought that encouraging people to shop a little on that day might give this economy a boost,” said Mr. Verdisco. “Indeed, more people did shop, and perhaps the April sales figures will prove to be more positive as a result. This was not an April Fool’s gimmick; it was a serious call to economic action by individuals. The collective economic strength of the American consumer is truly awesome and could indeed help energize this great country’s economy.”

For more information at http://www.imra.org.