Why looking back is important!
Today is the day the nation's publicly held retail chains begin reporting sales results for the 2006 holiday season. While January's gift card redemptions prove an important component when assessing holiday sales results, December’s numbers usually are thought of as the best indicator of holiday success.
Comparing holiday numbers is difficult since some retailers report on the exact calendar month, others use a five-week reporting period, and still others report results from both November and December. All the numbers listed below are for same-store sales.