Last week (week of February 22nd) many retailers shocked the analyst community when companies universally suggested that February’s comp store sales versus last year were trending positively.  This week, many of these retailers followed-up with surprisingly strong top-line numbers. 

How was this possible?  Many of us are hard-wired to believe that snow = top-line weakness versus the prior year.  February 2010 was a heavy snow month. 

CATO suggested on its press release yesterday that February 2010 “benefited from a shift in timing of income tax refunds.”  While CATO is a micro-cap retailer, their monthly press releases are “must-see TV” since they’ll usually provide some insight into the top-line benefits during a particular month that all the others fail to acknowledge.  

Below is a link to a Zero Hedge blog entry that discusses this topic.  Have consumers pulled forward their spending this tax refund season?  We still believe that there has been a material top-line boost in January/February for survivors this year via a lack of liquidation sales versus LY, but the accelerated tax refund thesis sounds plausible as well.

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/do-accelerated-tax-refunds-explain-year-date-consumer-strength-and-record-low-government-tax

Did you know that Whole Foods Market (WFMI – 36.50) offers coupons?  Apparently, not many of their Facebook fans do either.

The natural and organic retailer offers coupons in its in-store value guide The Whole Deal to help its shoppers eat healthier on a budget.  In December 2010, WFMI started offering a selection of printable coupons on its web site at a click of a mouse.

We like to track the Facebook activities and fan base growth for the retail sector.  Most of the 400+ WFMI Facebook fans that responded to its recent posting were unaware of the coupons.

This is one of a kind occasion when we will indulge into coupon clipping!  Finally, shopping at Whole Foods does not have to be a whole paycheck… maybe half paycheck .

Online coupons offered by Whole Foods Market