In comparison with the same period in 2000, sales at specialty stores in U.S. malls decreased 0.6% for the third full week (Dec. 10 through Dec. 16) of the 2001 holiday shopping season, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) reported. For the season to date (Nov. 23 through Dec. 16), sales are down 3%.

However, jewelry sales were up 3.5%, leading all sales categories for the third week of the season and strongly rebounding from the 13% decline reported during the previous week.

Summary of Sales Results for Dec. 10 through Dec. 16, 2001 by category:

Apparel: -3.3%
Food service: -1.4%
Footwear: -2%
Home furnishings and furniture: +2.6%
Jewelry: +3.5%
Music, video, and home entertainment: +2.3%
Stationery, cards and books: -5.8%
Toys/sporting goods/other: -6.5%
TOTAL: -0.6%

The ICSC weekly holiday report includes sales from more than 4,000 specialty stores in 80 regional malls across the country. The national sample does not include department stores and other mall anchors.

DataScape Technologies, a software development company, compiled the sales data exclusively for ICSC. DataScape Technologies’ Daily Sales Advantage (DSA) software is installed in over 200 shopping centers in North America and Europe. DSA is used to gauge the impact of leasing, operations, and marketing programs on retail sales.

JCK