TRAVERSE CITY — Sales for Michigan retailers dipped in May according to a monthly sales index generated by the Michigan Retailers Association.
The survey showed that 45 percent of retailers reported sales declines last month from May 2009, while 39 percent recorded sales gains and 16 percent reported no change.
The MRA's retail index showed its weakest performance since November and snapped a string of three consecutive months of sales gains.
"We expected to see continued improvement...but it appears that national economic issues, including a sharp drop in home sales, were a major drag against consumer spending," MRA president and CEO James Hallan said.
Retailers in Traverse City reported the highest sales gains in the state. Eighty-six percent of local retailers surveyed reported sales gains in May, while 14 percent recorded declines.
For the northern Michigan region, 52 percent reported year-to-year sales gains for May.
The MRA's three-month sales outlook shows that 49 percent of retailers expect higher sales this year from June through August, while 20 percent expect a decrease and 31 percent anticipate no change.
Business
Retail sales drop in May
-
-
New Ohio facility makes its debut
Developers of Ohio's newest casino think they'll do just fine competing for gamblers with Detroit's three casinos, even without the spas, hotels and big-name concerts found just up the road.
Continued ... -
BizWeek: 05/30/2012
Chevy Volt Ride and Drive event from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at Cambria Suites, 255 Munson Ave. in Traverse City; includes overview of electric and fuel efficient automobiles, electric charging station demonstration and test drives; sponsored by Cambria Suites, Williams Chevrolet and U-Go Stations; more information available at (231) 995-7541.
Continued ... -
Snyder questions ballot plan
Gov. Rick Snyder said Tuesday he has serious doubts about requiring Michigan utilities to produce 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025, saying it's too early to set such an ambitious goal.
Continued ... -
Consumer confidence suffers in the U.S.
Americans grew much gloomier about the economy in May, causing a critical measure of consumer confidence to suffer its biggest decline in eight months and ending a period of steady optimism.
Continued ... -
Ad creates national buzz
Never Enough Auto Accessories is riding high after a U.S. Postal Service advertising campaign featured the speed shop in glossy magazines such as National Geographic, History Channel, Popular Photography and Scientific American.
Continued ... -
Score: Tap Employees for New Ideas
Every day, small business owners scour the internet, read business journals, and wrack their brains in search of new ideas for improving efficiency, attracting customers, and boosting the bottom line.
Continued ... -
Pool access for disabled is sparking controversy
The Obama administration is sidestepping an election-year confrontation with the hotel industry and other pool owners to give them more time to comply with access rules for the disabled.
Continued ... -
After NYC beer museum tour, hop on over to its bar
Beer was hip in New York long before hipsters were into craft brews, according to a new exhibit at the New-York Historical Society that traces the history of beer all the way back to drunken Colonial times.
Continued ... -
Recalls this week: Lamps, bike parts
Clip-on desk lamps and kitchen blenders are among this week's recalled products.
Continued ... -
Business View: To be healthy, we need to stop fraud
Medicare has been a ripe plum for picking by some of the most-sophisticated and not-so-sophisticated criminals. Because the law says that all claims must be paid to vendors in less than 30 days Medicare is based solely on trust.
Continued ... - Business Memoranda: 05/27/2012
-
Business in Brief: 05/27/2012
Local executive to co-chair policy forum; Machine safety is the subject of program; Job training help is available for veterans; Retail sales down in April; outlook better; and more.
Continued ... -
Making the miles melt away
Judging by the sharply angled, aggressive nose on the 2013 Lexus GS, you might think this is a car that wants to bite your head off.
Continued ... - Saturday, May 26, 2012
-
Small dairies fading away
The MacLaren brothers are third-generation dairy farmers, but they will likely be the last in their family. After working all their lives on the hillside farm in Vermont that their grandfather bought in 1939, they decided to call it quits, auctioning off their roughly 200 cows and equipment.
Continued ... -
Agriculture forum: A big year for local food in schools
With asparagus spears and rhubarb stalks poking up through the ground, many schools throughout northwest Lower Michigan are capping off a big year of celebrating and serving locally grown food.
Continued ... -
Futures File: Eurozone, investors troubled by Greek drama
The euro currency continued to sink this week, falling to the lowest price since 2010.
Continued ... -
Business in Brief: Michigan dairies show April milk increase
Milk production from Michigan dairy herds in April increased from last year.
Continued ... -
Council created in 2010 names members
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has named the members of a council created in a 2010 settlement to ensure Native American farmers and ranchers have access to Department of Agriculture programs.
Continued ... -
Sugar fight takes another bitter turn
The Sugar Association is accusing the makers of high fructose corn syrup of trying to candy-coat their image by calling their product a "sugar."
Continued ... - Friday, May 25, 2012
-
State jobless rate drops to 8 percent
Michigan reports that the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate dropped a full percentage point statewide and fell in all major labor markets.
Continued ... -
The Record: 05/25/2012
Assumed names filed in Grand Traverse County:
Continued ... -
Building Permits: 05/25/2012
Eastwood Custom Homes, 927 Andrew Melissa Lane, Blair Township, new home, $254,253
Continued ... -
Schilling's firm lays off staff
Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's faltering video game company, which received a $75 million loan guarantee to move to Rhode Island in 2010, laid off its entire staff on Thursday.
Continued ... -
Dow wins Kuwaiti case
Dow Chemical has been awarded $2.16 billion in damages by an international arbitration court for a Kuwaiti joint venture that collapsed four years ago as the global recession took hold.
Continued ... - Thursday, May 24, 2012
-
Oil below $90 for 1st time since Oct.
The price of oil dropped below $90 per barrel Wednesday, the latest milestone in a weekslong decline brought on by uncertainty surrounding economies from Europe to China.
Continued ...
-
No Limits for Disabled Hunters at Mich. Base
Victim Identified in Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Radioactive Bluefin Tuna Crossed the Pacific
90 Guns Seized, Dozens Arrested in Oakland
Raw Video: Hail Storm Batters Oklahoma City
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Judge's Ruling Halts Tenn. Mosque Construction
Romney in Las Vegas on Texas Primary Day
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Even Fla. Police Shocked by Face-Mauling Attack
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
