For the second month in a row, the Dealerscope Consumer Electronics Retail Confidence Index (DS Index) shed 10 points. The slide, which was expected, given the historical summertime trend of the DS Index, comes as most retailers are prepping for the final quarter of the year and have their eye towards the more lucrative fall and winter months. Settling in at 175.21, the August 2018 confidence score is a little more than seven points higher on a year-over-year basis. In explaining their decreased confidence, retailers cited many of the same summertime complaints including slower-than-average foot traffic because of vacations, harsh weather conditions, and strong local competition. Notably, the August survey brought out the first mention of tariffs and their impact on retail, with one retailer saying the negative news coverage has had an impact on foot traffic. Those retailers on the more confident end of the spectrum in August said aggressive pricing promotions and above-average demand in the video/TV department led to better than expected foot traffic and sales performance.
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