December Retail Sales

The one positive we can take from the weak ABS December retail results released today (clothing and footwear down >2% seasonally adjusted) is that PGR's weak H1 is reflective of industry wide factors rather than company specific issues. Its also good to hear that online suffered a weak Dec result as well.


Having just re-read an excellent investing book 'The Most Important Thing' by the head of Oaktree Capital, it reiterated the fact that most of the best investing opportunities arise because investors assume that bad (or good) conditions will last forever. It would be a big call to suggest we have passed the bottom in retail sales, but we must be getting close. IMO, this is much more a time to buy than a time to sell, but as they say, investing is simple but its not easy...