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Despite 2.1% Decline, Hope for Retail Sales

NEW YORK CITY-Easter shift depresses figures, but shoppers are beginning to emerge from the winter sleep.

By Debra Hazel | Updated on April 10, 2009

NEW YORK CITY-Sometimes numbers can be deceiving – though March 2009 comparable-store store sales declined by 2.1% from the same month of 2008, retailers’ moods seem to have lightened, and some shoppers may be emerging from hibernation as the weather turns warmer.

Many stores noted that calendar issues, including the shift of Easter into April this year, are responsible for the drop. In addition, March 2009 had one more Tuesday and one less Saturday than in 2008.

“The Easter and calendar shifts negatively impacted the industry as a whole by three percentage points,” wrote Michael P. Niemira, International Council of Shopping Centers chief economist and director of research, adding that some specific retailers were helped by the Easter shift, as they were not closed for one Sunday this year.

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