Sales at jewelry-only stores during December 2002 rose 10.7% compared with figures from the same period in 2001, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Monthly Retail Sales. For the fourth quarter, sales figures were 7.5% greater than they were in fourth quarter 2001.
Fourth-Quarter Sales at Jewelry-Only Stores
| MONTH | 2001 | 2002 | Annual Change |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau’s Monthly Retail Sales | |||
| Oct | $1.7 billion | $1.8 billion | +5.9% |
| Nov | $2.3 billion | $2.3 billion | no change |
| Dec | $5.54 billion | $6.13 billion | +10.7% |
| Quarter Totals | $9.5 billion | $10.21 billion | +7.6% |