Cooler Air Sparks Early Demand for Fall Products Ahead of Labor Day
Autumn in August = High Volume, Full-Price Sales
Labor Day falls on Monday, September 1st, and represents the unofficial end to the summer season. As consumers enjoy the final days of summer, many retailers have shifted their focus from clearing warm-weather categories to capturing early fall season sales. The weather will certainly help kickstart this seasonal demand transition during the final full week of August, providing a great opportunity for businesses to capture increased, high-margin sales.
Leading up to the Labor Day weekend (August 25th – August 28th), autumn-like temperatures will spread across much of the country, stimulating consumer interest in seasonal apparel like jackets, sweaters, and denim, conveniently aligning with the peak of back-to-school shopping.
The cooler temperatures combined with mostly dry conditions will boost traffic and drive demand for hot foods and beverages, seasonal items, and outdoor home improvement projects.
Parts of the West will be an exception, as warmer-than-normal conditions are expected to persist, extending demand for cool beverages and other summer essentials. While most of the U.S. will be drier, wetter conditions will impact Southwest and South Central markets.
Heading into Labor Day weekend (August 29th – September 1st), cooler temperatures will continue for many, though some warming is anticipated along the Northern Tier and Gulf Coast. The majority of the country can look forward to mostly dry conditions, with only a few lingering showers affecting the Plains and Midwest. This overall pattern is ideal for encouraging increased foot traffic to stores and restaurants, and is also expected to support outdoor celebrations.
Our neighbors to the North will be celebrating Labour Day on Monday, September 1st. Temperatures will be split with a cool East, warm West early in the week, but eastern markets will transition to above normal conditions by the end of the weekend. Dry conditions will support outdoor activities and holiday celebrations for much of Canada; however, a few showers are expected over eastern Quebec and the Canadian Maritimes.
September is the climatological peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Learn more about Planalytics’ Tropical Alerts that provide specific location and time impacts to your business as systems develop.
Stay ahead of the clear regional shifts in consumer demand and optimize inventories, marketing campaigns, promotions, and operations. Please reach out to Planalytics to further discuss specific weather impact insights for your business.