Warmer June will lift outdoor sales

Demand for outdoor furniture, barbecue supplies and gardening products will see a lift this month

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 7/21/2010 1:39:02 PM

For the nation as a whole, 2009 brought the coldest retail June in five years. Those chilly conditions combined with overall economic gloom to make outdoor living purchases less appealing to frugal consumers.
The Northeast showed the greatest change toward unfavorable weather with its second coldest and third wettest June conditions in more than 17 years. Demand for summer and outdoor categories took a hit during the month, however a dry week prior to July 4th offered some hope to Northeast retailers. Without the economic wet blanket, outdoor living product categories should have performed best across the South Central United States, where warmer and drier conditions prevailed.
This month will be the warmest June in at least three years across the Northern Rockies, Northern Plains and Great Lakes regions. The Northeast also will see warmer temperatures and improved conditions compared with last year. Meanwhile, the Deep South and Pacific Northwest will trend cooler and wetter, a negative for both outdoor living categories and store traffic.
Demand for outdoor furniture, barbecue grill supplies and gardening products will see a lift this month, especially across the Northeast and Midwest where the week prior to July 4th will trend warmer than last year - a big positive for summer categories.