Sonja Rudd Quotes on Sales (2 Quotes)

Retailers, after reporting a better than expected January, are having the opposite effect for February. Cold blizzard-like conditions in the Midwest and eastern Atlantic states hurt same-store sales, although Wal-Mart showed a 2.9 gain. Retailers are looking forward to March with the Easter spending.

New home sales surprised the experts. The Commerce Department said that new home sales were up by 13.8 for March, and last week used home sales were up as well. One economist says that the housing market still has a lot of room to maneuver and that a slump is more like a 'soft landing' for 2006. The 30-year mortgage is averaging 6.49 nationwide.