08:55 AM EDT, 08/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Redbook US same-store sales rose by 4.9% from a year earlier in the week ended Aug. 17 after a 4.7% year-over-year increase in the previous week.

Redbook noted that customers are interested in buying essential goods only. The back-to-school and tax-free holidays in Texas and Maryland increased sales, though due to different school calendars, the timings for new seasonal programs vary in different stores. Retailers are focused on clearing summer inventories to restock fall items and offer back-to-school discounts.

Through the second selling week for August, sales were up 4.8% compared with August 2023, below the target for a 5.6% gain, Redbook said.