According to Planalytics, this January in the Philly area was the third warmest in the last 50 years. The weather favored restaurants and “broadline sellers and home improvement retailers, and punished softline retailers selling winter apparel.”
The company said it was a mixed bag for supermarkets, who experienced less “pantry loading” than last year without the threat of a big storm, but more consistent shopping patterns. Sales in supermarkets of items like hot chocolate, soup and ice melt declined 42% compared to last year.