Many local and national retailers may be basking from strong sales over the Thanksgiving Day weekend, but some analysts said today that they are not sure whether it will last through Christmas.
"It's hard to call," said Barbara Johnson, managing partner of ShopperTrak RCT, a Chicago-based retailing analysis and consulting firm. "It's a good start, but there's still three weeks left this year."
Nationally, sales during the Thanksgiving Day weekend were up 12.4 percent over the same period last year -- for an estimated total of $15.9 billion, Johnson said.
She said 46 percent of those sales were made on Friday, versus 33 percent on Saturday and 21 percent on Sunday.
"It's a strong start," Johnson said, noting that retail sales were up only 3.4 percent during the same three days of last year. "People were out, but they were out very carefully."
That was because of the Sept. 11 attacks, as well as last year's mild winter weather. "People had other things to do," she said.
ShopperTrak's estimates include information from U.S. Commerce Department sales data. It includes sales information from mass-market retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., as well as from apparel stores, specialty merchandisers and furniture stores.
"That's not much of a factor this year," Johnson said, referring to the latter category.
Many shoppers were brought out by deep discounts and that this year has six fewer holiday shopping days, Johnson said.
In fact, Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark., reported that its Friday sales jumped 14 percent, setting a one-day record of $1.43 billion. Many of the stores of the world's largest retailer, including those in the Baltimore region, opened as early as 5 a.m.
"There's really heavy discounting already," Johnson said. "All of the retailers have been out there with heavy discounts."
As for the shorter shopping period, "It gives us less time to procrastinate," Johnson said.
Whether last weekend portends a successful shopping season depends on whether retailers' inventory holds up, she added.
"A good number of retailers are keeping their inventories low," she said. "If they maintain their levels, then there's a good chance they will have a good year."
A SunSpot check of several retailers around the Baltimore area today found mixed results, with many of the large discount retailers busy.
"It's crazy in here right now," said a manager of the J. Crew store at Harborplace and the Gallery. "I can't talk now."
Likewise at the Waldenbooks store in Eastpoint Mall. "It's been very busy here," an assistant manager said.
But at Hats in the Belfry, another Harborplace store, "things are a little slower today," said Donald Clark, the assistant manager. "It's Monday."
He said the store held a 20 percent off sale on certain mercandise this past weekend.
"We didn't sell as many as we had hoped, but it was good," Clark said. "After last year, it was good -- definitely good."
"It's hard to call," said Barbara Johnson, managing partner of ShopperTrak RCT, a Chicago-based retailing analysis and consulting firm. "It's a good start, but there's still three weeks left this year."
Nationally, sales during the Thanksgiving Day weekend were up 12.4 percent over the same period last year -- for an estimated total of $15.9 billion, Johnson said.
She said 46 percent of those sales were made on Friday, versus 33 percent on Saturday and 21 percent on Sunday.
"It's a strong start," Johnson said, noting that retail sales were up only 3.4 percent during the same three days of last year. "People were out, but they were out very carefully."
That was because of the Sept. 11 attacks, as well as last year's mild winter weather. "People had other things to do," she said.
ShopperTrak's estimates include information from U.S. Commerce Department sales data. It includes sales information from mass-market retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., as well as from apparel stores, specialty merchandisers and furniture stores.
"That's not much of a factor this year," Johnson said, referring to the latter category.
Many shoppers were brought out by deep discounts and that this year has six fewer holiday shopping days, Johnson said.
In fact, Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark., reported that its Friday sales jumped 14 percent, setting a one-day record of $1.43 billion. Many of the stores of the world's largest retailer, including those in the Baltimore region, opened as early as 5 a.m.
"There's really heavy discounting already," Johnson said. "All of the retailers have been out there with heavy discounts."
As for the shorter shopping period, "It gives us less time to procrastinate," Johnson said.
Whether last weekend portends a successful shopping season depends on whether retailers' inventory holds up, she added.
"A good number of retailers are keeping their inventories low," she said. "If they maintain their levels, then there's a good chance they will have a good year."
A SunSpot check of several retailers around the Baltimore area today found mixed results, with many of the large discount retailers busy.
"It's crazy in here right now," said a manager of the J. Crew store at Harborplace and the Gallery. "I can't talk now."
Likewise at the Waldenbooks store in Eastpoint Mall. "It's been very busy here," an assistant manager said.
But at Hats in the Belfry, another Harborplace store, "things are a little slower today," said Donald Clark, the assistant manager. "It's Monday."
He said the store held a 20 percent off sale on certain mercandise this past weekend.
"We didn't sell as many as we had hoped, but it was good," Clark said. "After last year, it was good -- definitely good."