NRSInsights’ September 2024 Retail Same-Store Sales Report

Rhea-AI Summary

NRSInsights released its September 2024 Retail Same-Store Sales Report, revealing a 2.2% year-over-year increase in same-store sales. Key highlights include:

- Units sold increased 2.9% year-over-year
- Average transactions per store rose 0.8% year-over-year
- Average prices for top 500 items increased 2.1% year-over-year

The NRS retail network comprised approximately 32,700 active terminals nationwide as of September 30, 2024. Notable trends include sales declines in categories like Chocolate and Confection, Vape, and Energy Drinks, while Smokeless Tobacco, Tequila, and Prepared Cocktails showed robust growth. Geographically, stores in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania experienced significant year-over-year gains, while Florida and Georgia saw sales declines due to Hurricane Helene.

Positive

• Same-store sales increased 2.2% year-over-year
• Units sold increased 2.9% year-over-year
• Average number of transactions per store increased 0.8% year-over-year
• NRS network's three-month moving average same-store sales outpaced US Commerce Department's data by 1.7 percentage points on average
• Strong growth in categories like Smokeless Tobacco, Tequila, and Prepared Cocktails
• Significant year-over-year gains in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania stores

Negative

• Same-store sales decreased 1.3% compared to the previous month
• Transactions decreased 0.7% compared to the previous month
• Sales declines in categories like Chocolate and Confection, Vape, and Energy Drinks
• Sales declines in Florida and Georgia due to Hurricane Helene

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The NRSInsights report provides valuable data on same-store sales trends in the independent retail sector, offering insights into consumer behavior and economic conditions. Key takeaways include:

• Same-store sales increased 2.2% year-over-year in September, down from 5.1% in August, indicating a slowdown in growth.
• Units sold grew 2.9% year-over-year, outpacing sales growth, suggesting potential pressure on margins.
• Average prices for top 500 items rose 2.1% year-over-year, down from 3.5% in August, hinting at easing inflationary pressures.
• Category trends show declines in discretionary items like confectionery and energy drinks, while essentials and tobacco products saw growth.
• Geographic variations were noted, with Northeast states showing stronger performance.

This data suggests a cautious consumer environment with a focus on essential purchases. For IDT , parent of NRS, this report demonstrates the value of their retail analytics platform, potentially driving growth in this business segment.

Financial Analyst

While the NRSInsights report doesn't directly provide financial data for IDT , it offers valuable insights into the performance of IDT's National Retail Solutions subsidiary. Key financial implications include:

• NRS processed $20.0 billion in sales through ~1.4 billion transactions in the past 12 months, indicating significant scale.
• The network grew to 32,700 active terminals, up from 19,400 last year, suggesting strong adoption and potential revenue growth for NRS.
• The platform's ability to provide granular sales data across various categories and geographies enhances its value proposition to CPG suppliers and advertisers.
• NRS' outperformance compared to U.S. Commerce Department data (+1.7 percentage points on average) may attract more retailers and increase market share.

For IDT investors, the growth and data capabilities of NRS represent a promising segment that could drive future revenue and profitability, diversifying IDT's business beyond its traditional telecom services.

September same-store sales increased 2.2% year-over-year

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NRSInsights, a provider of sales data and analytics drawn from retail transactions processed through the National Retail Solutions (NRS) point-of-sale (POS) platform, today announced comparative same-store sales results for September 2024.

As of September 30, 2024, the NRS retail network comprised approximately 32,700 active terminals nationwide, scanning purchases at approximately 28,400 independent retailers including bodegas, convenience stores, liquor stores, grocers, tobacco, and sundries sellers nationwide, predominantly serving urban consumers.

September Retail Same-Store Sales Highlights

(Same-store sales, unit sales, transactions, and average price data throughout this release refer to September 2024 and are compared to September 2023 unless otherwise noted. All comparisons are provided on a “per calendar day” basis to remove from consideration variability in the number of days per month.)

• SALES  
  • Same-store sales increased 2.2% year-over-year. In the previous month (August 2024), same-store sales had increased 5.1% year-over-year.
  • Same-store sales decreased (1.3)% compared to the previous month (August 2024). Same-store sales in August 2024 had increased 1.7% compared to the previous month (July 2024).
  • For the three months ended September 30, 2024, same-store sales increased 2.3% compared to the corresponding three months a year ago.

• UNITS SOLD
  
  
  • The number of units sold increased 2.9% year-over-year. In the previous month (August 2024), the number of items sold had increased 4.7% year-over-year.
    
  • Units sold increased 0.2% compared to the previous month (August 2024). Units sold in August 2024 had increased 1.3% compared to the previous month (July 2024).

• TRANSACTIONS PER STORE
  
  
  • The average number of transactions per store increased 0.8% year-over-year. In the previous month (August 2024), transactions had increased 1.8% year-over-year.
    
  • Transactions decreased (0.7)% compared to the previous month (August 2024). Transactions in August 2024 had increased 1.5% compared to the previous month (July 2024).
    
    
• AVERAGE PRICES
  
  
  • A dollar-weighted average of prices for the top 500 items purchased during September 2024 increased 2.1% year-over-year, a decrease from the 3.5% year-over-year increase recorded in August 2024.
    

Retail Trade Comparative Data

The table below provides historical comparative data with the U.S. Commerce Department’s Advance Monthly Retail Trade same-store sales data excluding food service:

Over the past twelve months, the NRS network’s three-month moving average same-store sales have outpaced the US Commerce Department’s Advance Monthly Retail Trade data, excluding food services, by 1.7% percentage points, on average.

The NRSInsights data in the chart above have not been adjusted to reflect inflation, demographic distributions, seasonal buying patterns, item substitution, days per month, or other factors that may facilitate comparisons to other periods, to other same-store retail sales data, or to the U.S. Commerce Department’s retail data.

Commentary from Suzy Silliman (SVP, Data Strategy and Sales at NRS)

“NRS’ year over year rate of same-store sales growth increased a modest 2.2% in September while decreasing 1.3% compared to August.

“During the past several months, we noted several categories that had been experiencing year-over-year sales declines. In September, Chocolate and Confection, Vape, Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks, and Sweet Snacks all decreased once again compared to the year ago. Chocolate and Confection’s rate of decrease accelerated compared to the prior months’ rate while the other categories’ rates of decline remained stable.

“On the flip side, categories sustaining robust year-over-year growth trends included Smokeless Tobacco, Tequila, Prepared Cocktails, and Wine Based Cocktails. Other categories with strong increases in September compared to the year ago included Laundry Detergent & Fabric Softeners, Supplements, Pork Rinds, Sparkling Water, and Rolling Papers.

“Several categories within the “School Lunch” classification also showed year over year growth in September including Lunchmeats & Cheeses, Yogurts, Nut Butters & Jellies/Jams, Snack & Variety Packs, and Food & Beverage Containers.

“Geographically, we saw sales declines in Florida and Georgia during the last week of September as evacuations and shutdowns from Hurricane Helene began. There were no noticeable impacts to sales in the Carolinas or Tennessee by month’s end. Nationwide, stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania enjoyed the most significant year-over-year gains across dollars, quantities, and baskets.”

NRSInsights Reports

The NRSInsights monthly Same-Store Retail Sales Reports are intended to provide timely topline data reflective of sales at NRS’ network of independent, predominantly urban, retail stores.

Same-store data comparisons of September 2024 with September 2023 are derived from approximately 191 million transactions processed through the approximately 19,400 stores on the NRS network that scanned transactions in both months. Same-store data comparisons of September 2024 with August 2024 are derived from approximately 251 million transactions processed through approximately 27,400 stores.

Same-store data comparisons for the three months ended September 30, 2024 with the year-ago three months are derived from approximately 562 million scanned transactions processed through those stores that were in the NRS network in both quarters.

NRS POS Platform

The NRS platform predominantly serves small-format, independent, retail stores nationwide including convenience stores, bodegas, liquor stores, grocers, tobacco, and sundries sellers. These independent retailers operate in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, and in 201 of the 210 designated market areas (DMAs) in the United States. NRS’ POS terminals processed $20.0 billion in sales through approximately 1.4 billion transactions during the twelve months ended September 30, 2024.

About National Retail Solutions (NRS):

National Retail Solutions operates the largest point-of-sale (POS) terminal-based platform and digital payment processing service for independent retailers nationwide. Retailers utilize NRS offerings to process transactions and effectively manage their businesses. Consumer packaged goods (CPG) suppliers, brokers, analytics firms, and advertisers access the terminal’s digital display network to reach these retailers’ predominantly urban, multi-cultural shopper base, and to harness transaction data-based learnings to identify growth opportunities and measure execution and returns on marketing investment. NRS is a subsidiary of IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT).

All statements above that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those in which we use the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “target” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgment of what may happen in the future, actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these statements due to numerous important factors. Our filings with the SEC provide detailed information on such statements and risks, and should be consulted along with this release. To the extent permitted under applicable law, IDT assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

NRSInsights Contact:
Suzy Silliman
SVP, Data Strategy and Sales at NRS
National Retail Solutions
suzy.silliman@nrsplus.com

IDT Corporation Contact:
Bill Ulrey
william.ulrey@idt.net

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FAQ

What was the year-over-year same-store sales increase for NRSInsights in September 2024?

NRSInsights reported a 2.2% year-over-year increase in same-store sales for September 2024.

How many active terminals did the NRS retail network have as of September 30, 2024?

As of September 30, 2024, the NRS retail network comprised approximately 32,700 active terminals nationwide.

Which categories showed strong growth in September 2024 for NRSInsights?

Categories showing robust growth included Smokeless Tobacco, Tequila, Prepared Cocktails, and Wine Based Cocktails.

How did Hurricane Helene affect NRSInsights' sales in September 2024?

Hurricane Helene caused sales declines in Florida and Georgia during the last week of September 2024 due to evacuations and shutdowns.

What was the increase in units sold for NRSInsights in September 2024 compared to the previous year?

The number of units sold increased 2.9% year-over-year in September 2024.