LANSING, MI--(Marketwire - February 27, 2008) - Michigan retailers project sales growth averaging 3.3 percent for 2008 -- after a slower start to the year, according to the Michigan Retail Index, a joint project of Michigan Retailers Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Their forecasts follow January sales that were a significant improvement from December, but below January of 2007.

"Michigan retailers are expecting improved sales this year, with much of the growth coming after the First Quarter," said James P. Hallan, MRA president and CEO. "They're projecting better sales as a result of the federal economic stimulus package and some overall economic improvement."

For January, the Index showed 37 percent of retailers increased sales over the same month last year, while 46 percent recorded declines and 17 percent saw no change. The results create a seasonally adjusted performance index of 47.5, up from 38.5 in December. A year ago January, the Index was at 50.4.

In addition, 42 percent believe their sales will increase for February-April, while 34 percent forecast declines and 24 percent project no change. The results create a seasonally adjusted outlook index of 53.4, down from 55.5 in December.

Note: William Strauss, Senior Economist and Economic Advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, can be reached at 312.322.8151.

Michigan Retailers Association/Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Michigan Retail Index
January 2008 results
Index figures dating to July 1994 are available at
www.retailers.com/news/retailindex.html

January Performance
Retailers reporting increased, decreased or unchanged sales, inventory,
prices, promotions and hiring compared to the same month a year ago
(numbers in parentheses indicate December results)

            % Increased  % Decreased  % No Change  Index*       Responses
Sales       37 (30)      46 (54)      17 (14)      47.5 (38.5)  116 (120)
Inventory   20 (28)      36 (35)      44 (32)      49.0 (55.3)  116 (117)
Prices      44 (45)       9 ( 8)      47 (43)      67.4 (66.6)  116 (118)
Promotions  29 (38)       7 ( 6)      64 (51)      64.8 (61.7)  115 (117)
Hiring       2 ( 6)      26 (15)      72 (68)      38.4 (40.2)  116 (109)

Outlook for Next 3 Months
Retailers expecting increased, decreased or unchanged sales, inventory,
prices, promotions and hiring compared to the same period a year ago
(numbers in parentheses indicate December results)

            % Increased  % Decreased  % No Change  Index*       Responses
Sales       42 (36)      34 (36)      24 (23)      53.4 (55.5)  116 (117)
Inventory   27 (22)      36 (41)      37 (30)      43.0 (42.3)  115 (114)
Prices      38 (45)       6 ( 9)      56 (38)      67.4 (65.9)  116 (113)
Promotions  46 (33)       5 ( 9)      49 (51)      68.8 (63.7)  115 (114)
Hiring       4 ( 5)      19 (15)      77 (70)      41.5 (44.5)  116 (111)

January Sales Performance & Outlook for Next 3 Months, by Region
(the first number indicates sales performance for the month; the number in
parentheses indicates outlook for the next three months)

            % Increased  % Decreased  % No Change
North       26 (22)      48 (52)      26 (26)
West        43 (33)      57 (48)       0 (19)
Central     33 (67)      28 (11)      39 (22)
East        42 (50)      16 (17)      42 (33)
Southeast   44 (49)      54 (28)       2 (23)

Question of the Month
What do expect your sales growth to be in 2008?

Average 3.3%

*Seasonally adjusted diffusion index. A diffusion index, which is the sum of the percent of respondents indicating increase and half the percent indicating no change, is calculated and then seasonally adjusted using the U.S. Census Bureau's X-11 Seasonal Adjustment procedure. Index values above 50 generally indicate an increase in activity, while values below 50 indicate a decrease.

Contact Information: Contact: Tom Scott 517.372.5656