Wal-Mart sees sales improving
Sales boost from warmer weather
July 15 2003
Wal-Mart has added a new note of optimism to its July sales forecasts, suggesting that US retailers are seeing signs of an upturn.
The world’s biggest retailer said its US like-for-like sales are currently “tracking at the high end of the 2 to 4 per cent range for the July period.”
So far this year, Wal-Mart has posted sales at the low end or below expectations each month. The figure compares to a like-for-like sales increase of 4.5 per cent posted by Wal-Mart in July 2002.
Warm weather in much of the USA boosted sales in the first week of July. Wal-Mart’s strongest sales categories in the US included men’s clothing, a key product area following the launch of the Levis Signature range. Other strong sellers included electronics, toys, swimwear, hardware, live plants and food.
