Retail’s 2020 Roller Coaster Ride
While creating Media Group Online’s 2021 Retail Sales Patterns Report, it became evident many retail sectors had to hold tight throughout 2020 as sales plunged and ascended quickly and often at a breakneck speed much like a mega-roller coaster ride.
Of 39 sectors in the report, only 10 experienced decreased sales during January and February, with fuel dealers suffering the most, at -11.5% and -12.6%, respectively. Men’s clothing stores decreased 6,0% during January and office supplies and stationery stores decreased 5.3%.
Then came March and the pandemic, and the roller coaster ride headed down at a steep angle. The trend completely reversed with only 11 of the 39 retail sectors generating increased sales. The retail sectors with the best and worst March have been well documented and are unsurprising.
The Five Retail Sectors with the Best and Worst March 2020 Sales
| Five Best | Percent | Five Worst | Percent |
| #1: Grocery stores | +28.5% | #1: Men’s clothing stores | -58.4% |
| #2: Food and beverage stores | +26.9% | #2: Women’s clothing stores | -56.4% |
| #3: Electronic shopping & mail-order houses | +19.3% | #3: Clothing stores | -53.4% |
| #4: Beer, wine & liquor stores | +18.2% | #4: Family clothing stores | -53.0% |
| #5: Non-store retailers | +16.3% | #5: Shoe stores | -51.3% |
US Census Bureau, January 2021
The stomach-churning ride for most retail sectors continued throughout Q2 2020, with only eight of the 39 reporting positive numbers for April and only nine for May. With June and a perceived pause in the spread of the pandemic, the ride just as quickly ascended as only 16 of the 39 sectors had negative sales.
Throughout the July through November period, the pattern was relatively stable, averaging 16 sectors in the red.
Only four retail sectors recorded negative sales for the January–November 2020 period: department stores; fuel dealers; gift, novelty and souvenir stores; and shoe stores. Six sectors rebounded from a bad ride through Q2 to experience positive sales from July through November: used auto dealers; automotive parts, accessories & tire stores; furniture stores; hobby, toy and game stores; household appliances stores; and sporting goods stores.
