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:

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 travel schedule. 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 +5.6% year-over-year sales improvement in August 2011. This represents a sharp deceleration versus the +6.6% growth in July 2011.

The most compelling category specific storylines in August 2011 were:

Most categories reported lower year-over-year growth in August 2011 versus July 2011. Bucking this trend (i.e. stronger sales growth in August 2011 versus July 2011) were Electronics & Appliance Stores and Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, Music Stores.

Look for materially weaker top-line results at Motor Vehicles & Parts Dealers going forward. Beginning in September 2011, the category will begin to lap positive 2-year comps (e.g. +3.4% in September 2010 versus -5.0% in August 2010).

Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores are down -20.7% over the past 4 years (i.e. August 2011 versus August 2007)… by far the worst performing category over that timeframe. Motor Vehicles & Parts Dealers are down -13.0% over the same timeframe.

Prior to August 2011, Food Services & Drinking Places had reported 12 consecutive months of year-over-year growth that was greater than +4.0%. The category’s year-over-year growth rate decelerated to +3.9% in August 2011.

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. This month’s report delayed due to an annual revision of the data. 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 +6.6% year-over-year sales improvement in July 2011. This represents the strongest growth rate since March 2006.

The most compelling category specific storylines in July 2011 were:

Big ticket categories had been struggling the most of late. But, in July 2011, Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores and Electronics & Appliance Stores each reported a stronger year-over-year growth rate than June 2011. That said, sales for these two categories were only flattish versus LY.

Got inflation? Grocery Stores delivered robust +8.2% year-over-year growth in July 2011. This represents the category’s strongest year-over-year growth since at least 1998 (our data only goes back that far). The previous strongest year-over-year growth rate was +5.7% in August 2008.

Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores are down -20.6% over the past 4 years (i.e. July 2011 versus July 2007)… by far the worst performing category over that timeframe. Motor Vehicles & Parts Dealers are only down -10.2% over the same timeframe.

Food Services & Drinking Places have now reported 11 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. This month’s report delayed due to an annual revision of the data. 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 +5.7% year-over-year sales improvement in June 2011. This represents a deceleration versus the adjusted +6.1% growth in May 2011.

The most compelling category specific storylines in June 2011 were:

Big ticket categories continue to struggle the most. In a month in which most categories reported stronger ‘comp’ sales than the prior month, Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores and Electronics & Appliance Stores each reported decelerating year-over-year growth rates in June 2011 versus May 2011.

After a relatively impressive March/April 2011, Electronics & Appliance Stores reported a material top-line deceleration in May/June 2011. Sales in May 2011 declined -1.5% versus LY. Sales in June 2011 declined -2.4% versus LY.

Grocery Stores delivered robust +6.8% year-over-year growth in June 2011. This represents the category’s strongest year-over-year growth since AT LEAST 1999 (our data only goes back that far).

Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores are down -20.7% over the past 4 years (i.e. June 2011 versus June 2007)… by far the worst performing category over that timeframe.

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