J. Philip Leichliter

Clearance sales and hot summer weather were beneficial to retailers in June 2011 as many posted better-than-expected same-store sales. The increases are encouraging for retailers as they head into the second half of 2011, with back-to-school and the holidays to look forward to. "Retail continues to perform well, with many retailers reporting sales greater than 'the street' estimated," says J. Philip Leichliter, president of J. Philip Group LLC. The following are the top five and bottom five retailers for June: Top 5 Retailers (based on same-store sales for June 2011 compared to June 2010): Saks Inc. +12.9% Saks,

While the "Easter shift" was blamed for some retailers' decreased same-store sales in March, the holiday's late-April date boosted sales last month. "Retail results were favorable, almost without exception, during April," says J. Philip Leichliter, president of J. Philip Group, LLC. The top 5 retailers in April all posted double-digit same-store sales increases from the same month the previous year, and even the month's poorest performers achieved same-store increases rather than decreases. Following are the Top 5 and Bottom 5 retailers for April: Top 5 Retailers (based on same-store sales for April 2011 compared to April 2010): Tandy Leather