Sales were seasonally sluggish for many of the nation's big retailers last month, but analysts said consumers are still interested in shopping.
February lived up to its reputation as one of the slowest months in the retail calendar, sales figures released by the big storeowners showed last week.But "overall, I found the numbers encouraging. Consumers are still willing to spend, although it's cautiously," said Joseph Ronning, an analyst with the investment firm Brown Brothers Harriman Inc.
It was hard to discern trends from the results, although shoppers continued to prefer home merchandise to clothes.
Sales were mixed even among the healthier industry segments. Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s discount stores reported strong results. But business at Target discount stores, a division of Dayton Hudson Corp., was slightly below expectations.
Apparel retailers continued to clear out leftover winter garb in order to stock their stores for Easter and early spring. However, with consumers buying clothing only when the weather turns, retailers probably won't know until April or May whether the apparel industry's drought is ending.
Women have curtailed clothing purchases for years, a trend that has been slow to dawn on many apparel purveyors.