2013 Forecast: Retail Sales Up 3.2%
Following uneven sales results in December
and January, retail executives are moderating their expectations for 2013.
According to a new survey by BDO USA, LLP,
retail CFOs project a 3.2 percent increase in total store sales, down from last
year's expected 4.5 percent increase, but still in line with recent projections
released by the National Retail Federation. Similarly, they anticipate a 2.3
percent increase in comparable store sales this year, down from last year's
projected 4.1 percent growth. While concerns over consumer confidence are
likely driving these more conservative projections, the increase comes on top
of 2012's strong 4.2 percent growth. Moreover, only seven percent of CFOs say
they expect their total sales to decrease this year, a sign that retailers see
the industry stabilizing.
