“Abnormally cold weather curbs consumer demand for spring goods and apparel, but some companies, including drug chains and dollar stores, are benefiting from the spring’s delay.
“Right now, March is trending the coldest since 1996 in the U.S. It’s also the snowiest March since 2002,” said Evan Gold, senior vice president of client services at Planalytics, a company that analyzes how weather affects consumer demand.
Consumers were shopping very differently the weeks leading up to Easter this year than they were a year ago. Last year, March was the warmest on record for more than 100 years, Gold said. This year’s shoppers were not after summer dresses and sunglasses. Planalytics evaluated that demand for shorts fell 12 percent in the fourth week of March versus a year ago and 9 percent for sandals. Interest in lawn and garden items fell 21 percent, delaying the most lucrative season for home improvement stores.
“Springtime is ultimately Christmas for folks like Home Depot and Lowe’s, Ace Hardware,” Gold said. But cold weather will likely to continue for a few more weeks, he said….”
Snowing again hear as we speak.. Depressing.