Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, are a key indicator of retailers' performance. The data are also important to the overall recovery, since consumer spending fuels two-thirds of the economy.
The weakness in April data was in sharp contrast to the previous month. March's report showed sales increased 9.1% over last year, the biggest monthly gain since Thomson began keeping records in 2000.
0:00/2:26Time-lapse: A day at a Walmart storeThe March data got a boost from unusually warm weather, Easter shopping and improved consumer confidence, Thomson said in its report. The calendar shifted the Easter holiday to March this year.
"For year-over-year comp[arisons], it's essential to average the results of [March and April] to get a smoother representation of how the Easter months fared," the Thomson report said, noting the two-month average is a "robust" 4.8% gain.
Teen apparel stores posted the biggest misses in April. That included alternative clothing store Hot Topic (HOTT), which reported sales were down 12.5%, while Thomson expected only a 7.9% drop. The Buckle (BKE) posted a 5.7% decline, while expectations were for a 1.7% jump.
Membership warehouse club Costco (COST, Fortune 500) was among the bright spots, with an 11% gain, but it missed estimates for an increase of 11.2%.
Sweet incentives lift auto sales in MarchSuper shoppers: March sales are a record
