Retail Sales Research Brief

Spending on clothing reaches record mark. Seven of 10 retail categories posted modest to moderate monthly sales gains in July, led by the apparel segment’s 1.9 percent rise. As households push back-to-school purchases closer to the start of the school year, August may be another historically strong month for the sector. This would have positive implications for off-price apparel retailers, including expansion-minded Burlington, Ross, Goodwill, and TJ Maxx.