Retailers Ring Up Robust Sales

Updated from 10:33 a.m. EDT

The nation's major retailers reported strong results for March as an early Easter had sales hopping, but the figures topped expectations even taking into account the holiday shift.

But while the March results were generally viewed as robust, analysts warned that April could bring showers of red ink.

According to Thomson Financial, 79% of the 51 retailers reporting March same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, had beaten analysts' estimates Thursday, while 21% missed Wall Street's expectations.

Teen apparel was the top sector, with an overall same-store sales increase of 11.6%, while the specialty sector was the poorest performing, wheezing in with a 7% decrease in comps.

March sales benefited from the earlier Easter this year, which shifted sales for the holiday into the March period from April last year. As well, March was helped by balmy weather and an extra Saturday in the period.

"The numbers were particularly strong; I don't think there's any doubt about that," said Ken Perkins, president of the research firm Retail Metrics. "(But) as strong as March was, we think April will be particularly weak."

Aside from being hurt by the Easter shift, Perkins said April sales may be affected by the cold snap that hit a large part of the U.S. during Easter week. Other factors, such as ongoing troubles in the housing market, could also pull down sales, he said.