Same store sales increase, but not at a robust pace   

While most retailers are seeing low single digit growth rates, the most recent monthly/quarterly same store sales data showed strong growth for four large retailers with sales up over 4% from last year. Costco, Sam’s and Kroger in particular had very strong numbers. Only Best Buy and Sears are reporting declining same store sales in the most recent reporting period. Results have improved from 2010 when same store sales for the same reporting period showed slower growth or greater declines for 7 of the 11. The retail segment drives a tremendous amount of freight transportation and this data shows that demand for freight transportation has some small upward momentum.

Source: www.retailerdaily.com, www.stores.org, Transplace analysis, excludes fuel sales.