Late Easter Slows Retail Sales

Same-store sales sagged to a 2.5 percent gain in March, Kantar Retail reported yesterday. The gain was down from last months 4.4 percent and last years 9.2 percent gain in March. According to Kantar Retail, the sagging numbers were due to this years late Easter holiday and higher fuel prices. Whats encouraging is that the Easter-related letup in sales wasnt as severe as expected by a number of retailersespecially in light of the additional drag of higher fuel prices, says Frank Badillo, Senior Economist at Kantar. Sustained growth in jobs and income may be helping to alleviate some of