The Big Picture Retail sales continued to tick up in June, despite the 9.1% increase in inflation recorded over the same period. Total retail sales, excluding autos and gas, rose
Family Enterprises: A Legacy of Success
Family businesses are quite common in the apparel industry, due to their unique history. Up until around 120 years ago most clothing was handmade. Machines could do some work, but
June ’22 Retail Report: Inventory Levels Climb As Sales Cool
The Big Picture Overall retail sales fell 0.3% in May, while sales of clothing and accessories inched up 0.1% over April, according to the National Retail Federation. Last month is
May ’22 Retail Report: Gains Slow As The Sales Cycle Normalizes
The Big Picture Retail sales continued to remain strong in April, notching up 7.2%, with a 10.8% increase in apparel sales, according to MasterCard SpendingPulse figures. What’s more, the growth
April ’22 Retail Report: Despite Brisk Sales, Inventory Starts to Climb
The Big Picture Total retail sales grew 8.4% in March over last year, and 18% compared to pre-pandemic 2019, with travel and services making the biggest comebacks, according to Mastercard
March ’22 Retail Report: War, Inflation Still Haven’t Shaken Demand
The Big Picture Just as we were reaching greater stability amid the pandemic, the escalating war in Ukraine has reintroduced uncertainty into the market. The stock market has dipped as
Feb. ’22 Retail Report: 2022 Sales Off To A Strong Start
The Big Picture Despite climbing inflation and strong spending over the holiday season, consumers continued to shop through the normally slow month of January. Overall retail sales increased by 3.8%
Jan. ’22 Retail Report: Prepping For Another Uncertain Year
The Big Picture Although December’s top line retail sales numbers looked disappointing on the surface — slipping 1.9% compared to last year — overall holiday sales beat records. From the
Dec. ’21 Retail Report: Record Sales Cap a Rocky Year
The Big Picture In the last week of what turned out to be another roller-coaster year, we can help but celebrate the robust holiday season we’ve just had. Overall retail
Nov. ’21 Retail Report: Planning a Soft Landing into Spring
The Big Picture Overall retail sales continue to be brisk, despite rising inflation. U.S. sales increased by 1.7% in October, the biggest gain since March, when stimulus checks boosted many