Reminder: We like to look at the Commerce Department data on a comp basis (year-over-year change). Hey, it’s government data, so caveat emptor. See Full Report Here

Big picture, our favorite measure of “what’s happening at the mall” (excludes Motor Vehicles, Gasoline, and Building Materials) suggests a +4.3% year-over-year sales improvement in January 2012 versus LY. This represents a deceleration versus the +4.6% growth rate in December 2011.

The most compelling category specific storylines in January 2012 were:

January 2012 represented the 27th consecutive month of positive year-over-year growth for our favorite mall measuring stick. But, year-over-year growth again decelerated versus the prior month.

Driving the year-over-year growth deceleration in January 2012 versus December 2011 were the following categories: Clothing & Clothing Accessory Stores, Health & Personal Care Stores, Motor Vehicles & Parts Dealers, and Non-Store Retailers. All other categories reported an acceleration of year-over-year sales growth in January 2012 versus December 2011.

The headline this month was the dramatic decline in year-over-year sales growth by Non-Store Retailers. The category saw its year-over-year growth rate plummet to +4.9% in January 2012 versus +10.1% in December 2011 and +13.0% in November 2011.

Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores again reported impressive year-over-year growth in January 2012 (+7.8% in January 2012 follows +7.0% in December 2011).

That said, the category remains the worst performing category versus calendar 2008 (-13.1% in January 2012 versus January 2008).

Over the same 4-year timeframe, other struggling categories such as Motor Vehicles & Parts Dealers are down -3.4% and Electronics & Appliance Stores are down -11.9%.

Sure, Food Service & Drinking Places likely benefitted from favorable weather in January 2012 versus LY. But, the category’s January 2012 growth rate of +8.2% versus LY in the month was the category’s strongest growth rate since December 2006. Impressive.

Monthly “Big Picture – what’s happening at the mall” year-over-year results for the trailing 6 months:

Reminder: We like to look at the Commerce Department data on a comp basis (year-over-year change). Hey, it’s government data, so caveat emptor.

This month’s report delayed due to ICR Conference attendance. See Full Report Here

Big picture, our favorite measure of “what’s happening at the mall” (excludes Motor Vehicles, Gasoline, and Building Materials) suggests a +5.0% year-over-year sales improvement in December 2011 versus LY. This represents a deceleration versus the +5.3% growth in November 2011.

The most compelling category specific storylines in December 2011 were:

December 2011 represented the 26th consecutive month of positive year-over-year growth for our favorite mall measuring stick. But, the 2-year growth rate greatly decelerated versus a month ago.

Electronics & Appliance Stores reported only flat year-over-year growth in December 2011 versus LY. This disappointing growth rate followed a +3.9% improvement in November 2011 versus LY.

Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores again reported impressive year-over-year growth in December 2011 (+5.6% in December 2011 follows +4.5% in November 2011). That said, the category remains the worst performing category versus calendar 2007 (-14.6% in December 2011 versus December 2007).

Over the same 4-year time frame, other struggling categories such as Motor Vehicles & Parts Dealers are down -3.5% and Electronics & Appliance Stores are down -12.4%.

Sure, Food Service & Drinking Places likely benefitted from favorable weather in December 2011. But, the category’s +8.4% growth versus LY in the month was impressive.

Non-Store Retailers saw its year-over-year growth rate slow to +10.6% in December 2011 versus +14.1% in November 2011.

Reminder: We like to look at the Commerce Department data on a comp basis (year-over-year change). Hey, it’s government data, so caveat emptor. See Full Report Here

Big picture, our favorite measure of “what’s happening at the mall” (excludes Motor Vehicles, Gasoline, and Building Materials) suggests a +5.5 year-over-year sales improvement in November 2011 versus LY. This represents a sharp decelecration versus the +6.2% growth in October 2011.

The most compelling category specific storylines in November 2011 were:

November 2011 represented the 25th consecutive month of positive year-over-year gorwth for our favoirte mall measuring stick. 2- year growth rates are still accelerating.

Electronics & Appliance Stores reported strong +6.4% year-over-year growth in November 2011 versus LY. This follows a +3.3% improvement in October 2011.

Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores again reported impressive year-over-year growth in November 2011 (+4.4% in November 2011 follows +4.0% in October 2011). That said, the category remains the worst performing category versus calendar 2007 (-17.0% in November 2011 versus November 2007).

Over the same 4-year timeframe, other struggling categories such as Motor Vehicles & Parts Dealers are down -6.8% and Electronics & Appliance Stores are down -8.2%.

Most categories have reported weaker year-over-year sales growth thus far in calendar Q4 (Oct – Nov) than calendar Q3 (Jul – Sep).

Conversely, the following categories have generated a higher year-over-year growth rate thus far in calendar Q4 (Oct/Nov) versus calendar Q3 (Jul – Sep): Electronics & Appliance Stores, Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores, Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book & Music Stores, Food Service & Drinking Places, and Non-Store Retailers.

Monthly “Big Picture – what’s happening at the mall” year-over-year results for the trailing 12 months:

Reminder: We like to look at the Commerce Department data on a comp basis (year-over-year change). Hey, it’s government data, so caveat emptor. See Full Report Here

Big picture, our favorite measure of “what’s happening at the mall” (excludes Motor Vehicles, Gasoline, and Building Materials) suggests a +6.0% year-over-year sales improvement in October 2011 versus LY. This represents a modest acceleration versus the +5.8% growth in September 2011.

The most compelling category specific storylines in October 2011 were:

October 2011 represented the 24th consecutive month of positive year-over-year gorwth for our favoirte mall measuring stick.

Electronics & Appliance Stores reported strong +3.5% year-over-year growth in October 2011 versus LY. This followed a disappointing -0.9% decline in September 2011.

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, Music Stores reported a jaw dropping +9.1% year-over-year growth rate in October 2011 versus LY. This represents the category’s strongest year-over-year growth rate since at least 1998.

Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores again reported impressive year-over-year growth in October 2011 (+3.4% in October 2011 followed +3.4% in September 2011). That said, the category remains the worst performing category versus calendar 2007 (-17.8% in October 2011 versus October 2007). Motor Vehicles & Parts Dealers are down -9.8% over the same timeframe.

Food Services & Drinking Places continued to report impressive year-over-year sales growth in October 2011 versus LY (+6.7%). The category has now reported 13 consecutive months of year-over-year growth that is greater than +4.0%.

Monthly “Big Picture – what’s happening at the mall” year-over-year results for the trailing 12 months:

Reminder: We like to look at the Commerce Department data on a comp basis (year-over-year change). Hey, it’s government data, so caveat emptor. See Full Report Here

Big picture, our favorite measure of “what’s happening at the mall” (excludes Motor Vehicles, Gasoline, and Building Materials) suggests a +5.8% year-over-year sales improvement in September 2011 versus LY.  This represents a modest deceleration versus the +5.9% growth in August 2011.       

The most compelling category specific storylines in September 2011 and calendar Q3 were:

Most categories reported stronger year-over-year sales growth in September 2011 versus August 2011.  It’s worth noting that Electronics & Appliance Stores and Grocery Stores did not.

Most categories reported stronger year-over-year sales growth in calendar Q3 versus calendar Q2.  That said, the following categories reported a decelerating sales trend in Q3 versus Q2:  Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, Music Stores… Motor Vehicle & Parts Dealers… and (gasp!) Non-Store Retailers.          

Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores reported its strongest year-over-year growth rate since March 2010 (+3.2% in September 2011 versus LY).  That said, the category remains the worst performing category versus calendar 2007 (-17.2% in September 2011 versus September 2007).  Motor Vehicles & Parts Dealers are down -12.9% over the same timeframe.   

Food Services & Drinking Places reported its strongest year-over-year sales growth in September 2011 since July 2007.  The category has now reported 12 consecutive months of year-over-year growth that is greater than +4.0%.            

Monthly “Big Picture – what’s happening at the mall” year-over-year results for the trailing 12 months: