RETAIL SALES ARE PICKING UP.....FINALLY!!!

Earlier this week, the Commerce Department reported that retail sales increased for a third consecutive month in March. The Commerce Department said sales rose 1.6% last month, up from February’s gain of 0.5%.

The increases were across the board, with auto sales leading the way with a 6.7% gain over February. Excluding auto sales, retail sales rose 0.6% in March. Sales in March were 7.6% higher than the same month in 2009. Combined with a record jump reported last week in same-store sales, signs were clear that American consumers had opened their wallets again.

This is great news for the Home Decor Industry. Our industry was hit very hard by the recession of the last two years causing even the best of companies to hunker down. I think our industry is rebounding and making the way for what should be a much stronger Fall/Christmas season compared to 2009.