Consumer confidence appears higher in time for Mother's Day

May is a good month for people in the jewelry business.

Shiny, sparkly adornments are often given for springtime graduations, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, Easter and Mother's Day.

Shoppers also seem more enthusiastic this spring, said Kendra Harris, manager of Jayson Jewelers in Cape Girardeau.

"People are excited, and we're seeing that," Harris said during a busy Thursday afternoon.

The store's sales are up from the previous April, and whether it's a small or large increase, things "always seem to be moving forward, which is a good feeling," she said.

Retail sales have rebounded nationally, and about a 5 percent growth in retail sales is predicted from December 2013 to December 2014, after a gain of about 4 percent in 2013, according to Kiplinger, a Washington, D.C.-based publisher of business forecasts. After the government shutdown and harsh winter weather took a toll on businesses, consumer confidence appears to be bouncing back.

Because of rising temperatures, pent-up demand for vehicles, furniture, clothing and building materials produced a 1 percent increase in national retail sales in March.

Harris agreed, though she wasn't sure whether customer happiness would last the whole year or just through spring.

"Everybody's excited about spring and the weather and ready to get out and shop," she said.

Since the recession began in 2007, the retail trade has experienced considerable ups and downs, but sales generally have been on the rise since late 2009, according to the 2013 Missouri Economic Report from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Retail sales from January 2011 to January 2013 trended upward, from about $375 billion to $420 billion, but there have been one- to three-month stretches where spending fell, the report says.

Consumer sentiment indices, which consider individuals' feelings about their financial health, the short-term health of the economy and prospects for longer-term economic growth, have shown improvement in consumer confidence and expectations, which typically are reflected in spending patterns, the report says. But because of the slow economic recovery, consumers are expected to remain cautious with spending.

Joyce Kuntze has owned Arrangements by Joyce, 100 S. Sprigg St. in Cape Girardeau, for 34 years, and the shop was busy Thursday.

The busiest week of the year is the week of Mother's Day, Kuntze said, second behind Valentine's Day. Sales this week probably will be equal to what the florist might sell during an entire summer month, she said.

Not only is the shop running out of products, but so are the wholesalers who supply Kuntze.

Working with a perishable product poses difficulties because floral arrangements cannot be made weeks or months ahead before the busy season. The store also is at the mercy of the weather, depending on where the flowers are grown, she said.

"The last-minute sales can really throw us into a frenzy," Kuntze said, who advised people to order flowers early.

Jayson Jewelers prepares for May by refreshing stock and researching trends, Harris said.

The store's advertising increases during May and the month kicks off the summer, though sales will slow during July and August.

ashedd@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent addresses:

100 S. Sprigg St. Cape Girardeau, MO

115 Themis St., Cape Girardeau, MO

97 N. Kingshighway Ste #5, Cape Girardeau, MO