Planalytics North American WeatherCall Report: Holiday Demand for Seasonal Products Helped by Coldest December in Nine Years
WAYNE, Pa., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Planalytics Inc. released its monthly WeatherCall(SM) report for December 2009 indicating that colder temperatures during the critical holiday shopping period benefited businesses selling winter merchandise and services. Although most regions across North America also experienced a wetter/snowier month -- which did hinder traffic into stores and restaurants at times -- the overall impact of weather during December was favorable for most consumer focused businesses.
In the U.S., it was the coldest December since 2000 and every region trended colder than normal for the month. The Southwest region saw its coldest December in 50 years and the Northwest had its coldest December since 1990. It was the second coldest December in 50 years for both Denver and Salt Lake City. In Canada, Edmonton experienced its coldest December since 1983 and Calgary its coldest December since 1996. Precipitation was also more abundant across North America for the month, particularly in the Northeast and East North Central regions. Atlanta, Philadelphia, Buffalo and Pittsburgh recorded "Top Ten" wettest months. Overall snowfall for the month was less than the previous year but 46% above normal. The snowfall had a bigger impact on business as more highly populated areas were hit in 2009 compared to 2008.
Planalytics reported positive year-on-year weather driven demand indices for the following product categories: Electric Blankets (+13%), Ice Melt (+12%), Thermals (+9%), Automotive Batteries (+5%) and Cough/Cold (+1%).
"After an extremely calm November, Mother Nature returned in December," said Scott Bernhardt, Planalytics' Chief Operating Officer. "An active storm track brought snow and rain to many major population centers. Despite the Super Saturday Snowstorm in the Northeast and significant storms in interior locations, most businesses were helped by the weather on a year over year basis, particularly with sales of need-driven purchases."
Planalytics' tracking of publicly traded companies showed strong weather favorability indices compared to December 2008 for chains including Stage Stores (SSI), 99 Cents Only Stores (NDN) and Dillard's (DDS) while Target (TGT), Urban Outfitters (URBN) and Darden Restaurants (DRI) saw slightly unfavorable year-on-year weather indices for the month.
About Planalytics
Planalytics Inc. (www.planalytics.com) is the singular global source of Business Weather Intelligence®( )- the actionable information retail, manufacturing, life sciences and energy companies need to understand and optimize the impact of weather on their business. Weather is the most volatile of all external factors affecting business performance and Planalytics helps companies proactively manage this risk. Powered by an unparalleled database of weather's financial and volumetric impacts, proprietary modeling technologies and market-specific expertise, Planalytics' Business Weather Intelligence is essential to any company, in any industry, looking to effectively shape strategies, pinpoint opportunities and make more profitable decisions.
SOURCE Planalytics Inc.
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