It’s beginning to look like a happier holiday season for the retail industry. A day after the National Retail Federation said it’s projecting a 2.3% rise in holiday sales for 2010, several merchants reported better-than-expected numbers for September.
While that growth remains slightly lower than the 10-year average holiday sales increase of 2.5%, the NRF notes it would be a marked improvement from both last year’s 0.4% rise and the 3.9% holiday sales decline retailers experienced in 2008.
Limited Brands, parent company of women’s apparel retailer Victoria’s Secret, reported a 12% rise in September sales, which was well above the 4% it had expected.
Macy’s announced an increase in online sales at Macys.com and Bloomingdales.com of 29.3%, while the general merchant’s overall sales for September were up 6.9%.
Luxury goods merchant Nordstrom saw a 12.5% lift in September sales. The higher-ticket retailer’s direct sales were up 14.8% and its multichannel sales (full-line stores and direct) rose 9.5%.
Neiman Marcus reported a 4.9% rise in total revenues for September, and a 12.5% rise in direct sales, driven by women’s apparel and accessories, shoes, handbags and men’s apparel.
Even Saks, another upscale marketer – which had been in a sales rut this year and has been rumored to be on the selling block – recorded a 5.9% sales increase in September.
MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse, a macroeconomic report tracking national retail and service sales, indicated a rise in total U.S. apparel sales of 3.8% in September compared to August, and a 4.3% rise in consumer electronic sales.