Cooler, Wetter Patterns Prevail In Many Areas

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 6/1/2012 2:00:00 AM

Last June ranked as the nation's seventh warmest and third driest in 20 years. Temperatures were very hot across the South and precipitation was scarce as the area was under a severe drought causing wildfires, which were a negative for outdoor home furnishing categories. Memorial Day weekend provided a favorable start in the Northeast for outdoor products as a heat wave arrived and released some pent-up demand for summer categories. The week prior to July 4th was also another favorably warm week in the East.
     This month will be cooler and wetter than last year for the United States as a whole, with warmer weather in the West and cool weather in the East. Memorial Day brought the best conditions in the West with much warmer weather than last year, while the East faced more challenges with cooler temperatures than last year. The second half of this month will turn more favorable for the Northeast as warmer weather arrives. The Southeast and South Central states will be cooler than last year, but still near to above normal.