May 5, 2011

Later Easter Benefits April Sales, Data ShowsBy Mae AndersonABCNews.Go.com

A late Easter drove more spending on clothes this April than last, but gas prices and the weak housing market continued to crimp Americans’ spending on electronics and appliances, according to data out Wednesday from MasterCard Inc.

Figures from MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse show clothing sales rose more than 10 percent from April 2010, with particular strength in men’s clothing, which was up over 12 percent. Sales of women’s apparel rose over 7 percent. SpendingPulse data includes all forms of payment including cash.

“All apparel sectors were up from March, primarily because of Easter,” said Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis for MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse.

McNamara said it’s more accurate to view retail sales in March and April combined. By that measure, clothing sales rose 7 percent from the same period a year ago. Easter fell on April 24, as opposed to April 4 last year, so many shoppers delayed their holiday-related spending from March to April.

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