However, while the month ended strong, the rapid return to summer-like weather came on the heels of an abnormally cool and wet period in the Midwest and Northeast.
According to Paul Walsh, senior business meteorologist at Planalytics, "While the macro-level weather-driven demand environment in May remained positive, there were several counter signals that we believe would have muted the positive year-over-year impact on retail spending."
The biggest negative weather impact in May was the positive impact of the weather in April. The strong warming that occurred during Easter week in April likely pulled some sales forward out of May and into April.
Combine that with the wet weather in the Northeast and Midwest during the second half of the month, and the May weather-driven demand picture becomes decidedly mixed, despite the fact it was the eighth warmest May in 59 years.
Publication date: 06/05/2006
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